Louis van Gaal admits he would be interested in bringing Cristiano Ronaldo back to Manchester United, but thinks it is unlikely Real Madrid would sell the Ballon d'Or winner.
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Ronaldo has been linked with a return to Old Trafford as United, who invested a British record 153 million pounds in the summer transfer market, could carry on spending next year.
And Van Gaal, who brought in Angel Di Maria from Real Madrid and Radamel Falcao from Monaco, suggested he would always consider signing a superstar.
But he does not believe that Champions League holders Real would let Ronaldo, who has scored 257 goals in 252 games for Los Blancos, leave.
"It is always a discussion in the papers and I don't think the media shall buy Ronaldo," Van Gaal told his pregame news conference on Friday.
Ronaldo scored 118 goals in 292 games for United before joining Real for a then world-record fee of 80 million pounds in 2009, and Van Gaal hinted he could enter the bidding if the Portuguese was available.
"It is always possible, [like] what I said with Falcao, players like Ronaldo give a lot of extra to selection or to a team, but I don't think Real Madrid shall sell him," he said.
Van Gaal also said that defender Chris Smalling is back in contention for Sunday's game against Leicester.
The England international suffered a groin injury in August's 1-1 draw at Sunderland but his manager added: "I have only six injuries now so it is going good. Smalling is back."