THE Special One and Cristiano Ronaldo, best of enemies when this ego-mad pair fell out with spectacular consequences at Real Madrid, will share a handshake at Old Trafford.
It has to be that way because Ronnie is revered by the Manchester United fans who watched him score 15 times for them in the Champions League.
Some of them were glorious.
Rising high above Romas defence to head a chip from Paul Scholes at the Stadio Olimpico in 2008.
Cancelling out Frank Lampards opener in the final that year.
His double in a blistering opening spell at Arsenal in the second leg of the semi-final the following season.
Cristiano Ronaldo responds to question on alleged rape case against Kathryn MayorgaMourinho, no matter how much it sticks in his craw, must respect that.
Ronaldo will get a reception fit for a king when he walks out in the colours of Juventus tonight.
He has been back before, scoring the 69th minute winner at OT when Mourinho was his manager at Real Madrid on his last visit in 2013.
By then their relationship had deteriorated, with Ronnie and Mourinho at war over the way the Galacticos were set up to play.
The Special One, arch-pragmatist and the classic counter-punching coach, wanted Real Madrid to sacrifice some of their famous attacking principles.
Ronnie, dominating the dressing room and recruiting influential defender Sergio Ramos to be on his side, resisted.
Manchester United vs Juventus - Live stream, TV channel, team news and kick-off time for UEFA Champions League clashHe had just become world player of the year for the second time, ruling the roost at the Bernabeu just as Mourinho was starting to lose support inside the changing room.
There is a memorable picture of Mourinhos final game in charge, with a conciliatory gesture from Ronaldo to come towards him when his manager stood sulking in the tunnel.
Later, in an interview with Esquire magazine, the former Real coach claimed Ronnie spent too much time looking in the mirror in the tunnel before matches.
Heres looking at you, kid.
Ronaldo is a phenomenon, with his career straddling three of the most powerful clubs in the history of the sport.
He scored at the weekend, putting his off-field troubles to one side with his trademark celebration after putting Juve ahead in their 1-1 draw with Genoa.
Cristiano Ronaldo praises former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson ahead of Juventus Champions League tie at Old TraffordHe is up and running with five goals in Italy, operating with the full support of his club after those disturbing allegations of rape surfaced fully at the start of the month.
Kathryn Mayorga claims Ronaldo sexually assaulted her in a Las Vegas Hotel in 2009 and has already revealed that she was paid $375,000 by Ronaldo to keep details of her allegations hushed-up.
He disputes her version of events, publishing an emphatic denial on social media after Der Speigel uncovered details of the payment, on condition that Mayorga signed a non-disclosure agreement, in their investigation.
Excused from international duty with Portugal for the rest of the year while he continues the fight to clear his name in public, he has played on for Juve.
After a spluttering start, with doubts quickly surfacing about the wisdom of signing him from the European champions in the summer, his career in Italy is underway.
He has overcome his dismissal against Valencia on his Champions League debut for Juve to follow up on his double against Sassuolo with goals against Frosinone, Udinese and Genoa.
Even at 33 his appetite for the sport is undimmed.
He is a United legend, convincing the dressing room that he would become a global superstar when he returned ripped from the World Cup in 2006
For a time he was booed at away grounds, christened The Portuguese Winker after United team-mate Wayne Rooney was sent off for stamping on Ricardo Carvalho in the quarter-final in Gelsenkirchen.
Gary Neville has written extensively on Ronaldos attitude, his remarkable commitment and dedication to become the best player in world football.
He got there, with his talents recognised by Fifa in 2008 when he scored 42 goals for United in the year they beat Chelsea to the Champions League in the final in Moscow.
A year later, when he was finally granted his wish to join Real Madrid in 2009, Ronnies goals had taken United to yet another Premier League title.
They have never had a player like him since, nothing to compare with his remarkable talents and his ability to win games single-handedly.
Mourinho wants it done a different way, all about the process as he tries desperately to convince his dressing room that he can still build something big at United.
In the short term it means keeping Ronaldo quiet, locking him up in a Champions League group game that United cannot afford to lose.
Whatever the outcome, one of them will lose face.
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