Sports

Cristiano Ronaldo’s transfer ‘agreement’ with Sir Alex Ferguson before Man Utd retirement

Published

3 years ago

August 27, 2021

Cristiano Ronaldo had agreed a sensational return to Manchester United in 2013 – just before Sir Alex Ferguson retired..

The Portugal star left Old Trafford for Real Madrid in 2009 in what was then a world record deal, but his affection for the club, and their manager, remained strong.

Ferguson had just led United to another league title and had his sights set on a third Champions League.

Ronaldo had powered the Red Devils to European glory back in 2008 – still their most recent triumph.

Ferguson was planning to add Gareth Bale, who had just won the PFA Player of the Year award at Tottenham, to form a fearsome attacking line.

The Scottish manager made Patrice Evra aware of his plan – which he was “99 per cent sure” would come off.

Evra said on the UTD Podcast : “I remember there was a lot of media saying Ferguson will maybe retire next year, and he said, ‘Patrice, I will never retire. I will be here another 10 years’.

“He then said: ‘My target is I’m 99 per cent sure we will have Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale. I just need these two players to win the Champions League again. Ninety-nine per cent.’

“And to be fair, when I speak with Cristiano, I ask him and he said yes to the boss, and was coming to join United. He told me this.”

The dream return was not to be however and shortly after declaring his plan Ferguson called time on his managerial career.

Ronaldo ended up staying in the Spanish capital and was soon joined by Bale in a move that would eclipse the world record.

Evra knew something was up when he saw the media presence at United’s training base, shortly before Ferguson made his announcement.

He said: “When we arrived at Carrington, I see all those cameras and I was like: ‘Wow, someone has done something wrong. Maybe a player is the story again! Someone has done something wrong, we are in trouble.’

“But we arrived and people said, ‘Guys, you have to stay in the dressing room because the boss wants to have a chat’. And when the boss came into the dressing room to talk to everyone, it’s never good news.

“He came, and he said, ‘I’m really sorry. Some people have said that I’m going to retire even before I say it myself. That’s why you saw all those cameras. But I will retire because my wife needs me’.

“He apologised to Van Persie, he apologised to Shinji, because he just brought them. He apologised to them especially.”