A former Manchester United academy product has revealed Sir Alex Ferguson’s reaction to the treatment of Cristiano Ronaldo in the club’s canteen.
Ronaldo arrived at United following a pre-season friendly against his future team Sporting and showcased his talents in front of a wider audience and Sir Alex stepped in to sign the teenager for £12.3 million in the summer of 2003.
Ronaldo won three Premier League titles and the Champions League under Ferguson’s management, as well as winning the first of his many Ballon d’Ors during his first spell at Old Trafford.
The Portuguese star left in the summer of 2009 when United accepted a then world record-breaking £80m for Ronaldo from Real Madrid.
Ronaldo spent more than a decade moving from United to Real and Juventus, before rejoining the club in the summer of 2021.
However, his second stint at United did not go as well as his first, and he left Old Trafford again at the end of 2022 following an explosive interview with Piers Morgan, where he criticized several aspects of the club and then-boss Eric ten Hag. Criticized. ,
Ronaldo later joined Saudi Arabian team Al-Nassr, for whom he still plays today as he celebrates his 40th birthday in early February.
A former United youth team star who rubbed shoulders with Ronaldo during his first Old Trafford spell has revealed how Sir Alex reacted to what many say is a fairly cozy relationship between the pair. Will think of it as an incident.
Robbie Brady. (Image: Getty)
Robbie Brady began his career at United and played for the Tigers in two separate loan spells before making just one appearance for the Old Trafford club before departing permanently for Hull City in 2013.
Brady has since represented Norwich City, Burnley and Bournemouth and is currently on the books at Championship side Preston North End.
The Daily Star The report details how Brady allowed Ronaldo to go ahead of him in the queue for food in the club canteen, before Sir Alex spoke to him and gave the Irishman a lecture on how he was considered the best player in the world at the time. How he should not have been let go – and that says a lot about the former United manager’s mentality.
Brady said: “I thought I was being polite. I invited him to join me in the queue in front of me, and thought no more about it.”
When Brady told Sir Alex about it, the great manager said: “I want you to think you’re better than him. I want you to believe you can take his place on the team. I don’t want That you remain under them, don’t do it again.”