Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale agreed to move to Manchester United in the same transfer window, but the club refused to approve the moves.
This claim was made by Patrice Evra, who said that Sir Alex Ferguson told him that Ronaldo’s move to the club was almost 100 percent agreed shortly before the legendary Man United manager retired in 2013.
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Evra also claimed that former Tottenham and Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale is also on his way to Old Trafford and that Ferguson plans to stay at the club for another ten years.
On the Obi One Podcast he spoke to former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel about what it was like when the Scot finally left the Red Devils.
“One of the saddest days, I didn’t cry, I was shocked,” said Evra.
“The reason is that he brought me into his office two weeks before [and said]“Patrice, look at these people, they think I’m going to retire, that’s what I’m going to do.” [at the club for] Ten more years, but we still have to win more Champions Leagues.
“He [Ferguson] said: “Patrice, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale agreed 99 percent to come back.” [too].”
Ronaldo moved from Man United to Real Madrid in the summer of 2009 for a then world record transfer fee of £80 million.
He ended his first season with the Spanish giants without a trophy before scoring 60 goals in all competitions the following season, contributing to Madrid’s first La Liga title in four years.
“He needed £200m and the club refused to give him that £200m,” Evra added.
“And now they spent a billion on whatever…it was 2013, right before he retired, so [is] Why I remember when I left his office I thought, ‘Cristiano’s back, Gareth Bale, we’re back in business’ after winning the title and stuff.”
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Last year, Swiss-based research institute CIES Football Observatory claimed Man United had spent around £1.67bn on new players since 2014, while only recouping £481m from sales.
Evra’s former team-mate Paul Pogba remains United’s most expensive signing to date.
He surpassed Ronaldo’s world record transfer fee when he moved to the Manchester club from Juventus for £89 million in 2016.
Bale left Spurs but moved to Real Madrid in an £85 million deal. He then won four Champions League trophies with Madrid, scoring more than 100 goals.
Man United currently sit 12th in the Premier League with seven points and have won just two of their first six games.
Coach Erik ten Hag will be under increasing pressure if his team’s results do not improve in the coming weeks.
But The Pitch Prospect understands Man United plan to stick with the Dutchman for at least the next two games.