Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale agreed to join Manchester United the same summer, but the club refused, says Patrice Evra.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale agreed to join Manchester United in the same transfer window, but the club refused to sanction the moves.
This statement has been made by Patrice Evra, who said Sir Alex Ferguson told him that Ronaldo's transfer to the club was almost 100 per cent agreed just before the legendary Man United manager retired in 2013.
Evra also stated that the former Tottenham and real Madrid abroad Gareth Bale was also on his way to Old Trafford, and that Ferguson planned to stay at the club for TEN more years.
speaking in The Obi One Podcast with ex Chelsea Midfielder John Obi Mikel spoke about what it was like when the Scot finally left the Red Devils.
“One of the saddest days, I didn't cry, I was in shock,” Evra said.
“The reason is because two weeks before, he took me to his office (and told me): 'Patrice, look at those people, they think I'm going to retire, I'm going to be (in the club) for someone else.'” Ten years, but we need to win more Champions Leagues.
“He (Ferguson) said, 'Patrice, christian ronaldo “99 percent agreed to return and Gareth Bale (too).”
ronaldo He signed for Real Madrid from Man United in the summer of 2009 for a world record fee of £80 million.
He finished 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 200 million pounds and the club refused to give him those 200 million pounds,” Evra added.
“And now, they spent a billion on whatever… it was 2013, just before he retired, so I remember when I left his office, thinking: 'Cristiano's back, Gareth Bale, us.' We're back in business' after winning the title and everything.”
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Last year, a Swiss-based research institute CIES Football Observatory claimed that Man United had spent around £1.67bn on new players since 2014, while only recouping £481m from sales.
Evra's former teammate, Pablo Pogbaremains United's most expensive signing to date.
He surpassed Ronaldo's world record when he arrived at the Manchester Club from Juventus in 2016 for £89 million.
Bale left Spurs but joined Real Madrid in an £85m deal. He went on to lift four Champions League trophies with Madrid and score more than 100 goals.
Manchester United are currently 12th in the Premier League with seven points and having won only two of their first six games.
Coach Erik ten Hag will come under increasing pressure if his team's results do not improve in the coming weeks.
But talkSPORT understands that Man United plans to stay with the Dutchman for at least their next two games.
