Title: The Unlikely Path That Led Manchester United to Sign Cristiano Ronaldo
Subheading: Rio Ferdinand Reveals How the Club’s Failed Pursuit of Ronaldinho Led to the Signing of One of the Greatest Players in Their History
In the summer of 2003, Manchester United signed Cristiano Ronaldo from Sporting CP, and it’s no exaggeration to say that it changed the course of their history. But did you know that the club’s failed pursuit of Ronaldinho played a crucial role in this signing? Rio Ferdinand, a stalwart defender for United at the time, has opened up about how the club’s disappointment at missing out on the Brazilian superstar led to their eventual capture of Ronaldo.
“We tried to sign Ronaldinho, and he chose to leave Paris Saint-Germain and go to Barcelona. I remember the manager was devastated,” Ferdinand told The Obi One Podcast. But little did they know, this heartbreak would ultimately lead to the discovery of a gem in Ronaldo. John O’Shea, a Manchester United player at the time, recounts a pre-season friendly game where he was left exhausted after attempting to mark Ronaldo.
“He was in bits and he was sitting there panting. We were telling him to get closer to Ronaldo and he couldn’t even answer us,” Ferdinand chuckled. This was the first glimpse of Ronaldo’s exceptional talent, and it wasn’t long before the Old Trafford faithful would fall in love with the Portuguese winger.
Ronaldinho, for his part, had been on the brink of joining United, claiming he was just 48 hours away from making the move. However, he eventually decided to join Barcelona, a decision that proved to be a costly mistake. United’s failure to sign the Brazilian superstar ultimately led to their signing of Ronaldo, who would go on to win countless accolades and become an integral part of their success.
Former Brazil international Kleberson, who played for Manchester United between 2003 and 2005, revealed that he was in regular contact with Ronaldinho, who was keen to join the Red Devils. “Ronaldinho told me he was going to Manchester,” Kleberson told ESPN. “He kept saying to me, ‘Come to Manchester!’ I wanted to go, but I was reluctant because I didn’t speak English and United didn’t have any Portuguese speakers.”
The rest, as they say, is history. Manchester United’s failure to sign Ronaldinho ultimately led to their signing of Cristiano Ronaldo, who would go on to become one of the greatest players in the club’s history. As we celebrate the success of Manchester United, let’s not forget the crucial role that chance and circumstance played in bringing these two footballing legends to Old Trafford.
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