Manchester, Nov. 17 (BNA): Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo said he was close to signing with arch-rivals Manchester City last year, but former coach Alex Ferguson asked him not to do so.
Ronaldo said Ferguson persuaded him to return to United for a second stint at Old Trafford when he moved from Juventus in August 2021 on a two-year contract, returning to the club where he won eight major trophies from 2003-2009, Reuters reports. .
“Well, honestly, it was close… It’s something they talked about a lot and (Manchester City manager Pep) Guardiola said two weeks ago, I think, that they tried very hard to have me,” Ronaldo told Piers Morgan. Interview with TalkTV, part one of which aired on Wednesday.
“But you know, because my history (was) at Manchester United, your heart and your feeling… make all the difference. And, of course, also, Sir Alex Ferguson.
“I was surprised…but it was a conscious decision. Because the heart was speaking out loud at that moment.”
He added that Ferguson’s intervention helped him decide whether to join United.
“I think he was the key. It was the difference in that moment, but I can’t be sincere if I would, I wouldn’t say Manchester City wasn’t close,” said Ronaldo.
“I spoke to him (Ferguson)… He told me, ‘It’s impossible for you to come to Manchester City.'”
And I say, “Okay, boss. So I made the decisions and…it was a good decision. “
In an excerpt from the interview published on Sunday, Ronaldo says United betrayed him and claims he was forced out of the club. Read more
The Portuguese forward also said United did not support him when his daughter was taken to hospital in July, and were suspicious of him and showed a lack of empathy when he did not arrive on time for pre-season training.
On Monday, United said they would address Ronaldo’s statements that he felt he had been betrayed by the club and that he was only sent off after establishing the full facts.