Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale agreed to join Manchester United in the same transfer window, but the club refused to sanction the moves.
This claim has been made by Patrice Evra, who said Sir Alex Ferguson told him that Ronaldo’s move to the club was nearly 100 per cent agreed just before the legendary Man United manager retired in 2013.
Evra also claimed that former Tottenham and Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale was on his way to Old Trafford too, and that Ferguson was planning on staying at the club for a further TEN years.
Speaking on The Obi One Podcast with former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel, he discussed what it was like when the Scotsman eventually left the Red Devils.
“One of the most saddest days, I didn’t cry, I was in shock,” Evra said.
“The reason why is because two weeks before, he brought me into his office [and said], ‘Patrice look at those people, they think I’m going to retire, I’m going to be [at the club for] another ten years, but we need to win more Champions Leagues.
“He [Ferguson] said, ‘Patrice, Cristiano Ronaldo agreed 99 per cent to come back and Gareth Bale [too].”
Ronaldo signed for Real Madrid from Man United in the summer of 2009 for a then world record fee of £80million.
He ended his first season with the Spanish giants trophyless, before going on to score 60 goals across all competitions the following season, which contributed to Madrid’s first La Liga title in four years.
“He needed £200million and the club refused to give him those £200million,” Evra added.
“And now, they spent a billion on whatever… it was 2013, just before he retired, so that [is] why I remember when I got out of his office, I was like, ‘Cristiano is back, Gareth Bale, we’re back in business’ after winning the title and everything.”
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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 teammate, Paul Pogba, remains United’s most expensive signing to date.
He surpassed Ronaldo’s world record fee when he joined the Manchester club from Juventus in 2016 for £89 million.
Bale did leave Spurs but joined Real Madrid in an £85 million deal. He went on to lift four Champions League trophies with Madrid, scoring more than 100 goals.
Man United are currently 12th in the Premier League on seven points having won just two of their opening six games.
Manager Erik ten Hag is under increasing pressure if results do not improve for his side in the coming weeks.
But talkSPORT understands that Man United plan to stick with the Dutchman for at least their next two games.
