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Former Manchester United defender Patrice Evra has claimed that Sir Alex Ferguson successfully managed to convince Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale to join his ranks in 2013 but the club refused to pay the fee required.
At the time, Ronaldo was at Real Madrid while Bale had moved to the Santiago Bernabeu from Tottenham Hotspur in the same year.
Ronaldo had previously been on United’s books from 2003 to 2009 before completing a world-record transfer to Madrid, where he enjoyed an extremely successful spell.
Fergie’s plans to bring back the Portugal international failed but he eventually returned to Old Trafford in 2021 from Juventus. Meanwhile, Bale never got to line up for the Red Devils.
From Madrid, the Welshman joined Major League Soccer outfit Los Angeles FC in 2022 before eventually retiring from professional football a year later.
Speaking on the Obi One podcast, Evra – who spent eight years at United between 2006 to 2014 – revealed, “One of the most sad days [Fergie’s retirement]. I didn’t cry, I was in shock.”
“The reason why, is two weeks before, he brought me into his office and said: ‘Look at those people, they think I am going to retire, I am going to be another 10 years but we need to win more Champions Leagues.’”
“He said: ‘Patrice, Cristiano Ronaldo has agreed 99 per cent to come back and Gareth Bale.’ He needed £200m and the club refused. Now they have spent a billion, whatever.”
“I remembered when I got out of his office, I was like, ‘Cristiano is back, Gareth Bale, we are back in business.’ Imagine. That’s what he said.”
Ronaldo ended up winning four extra Champions League titles with Real Madrid while Bale lifted it on five occasions in the Spanish capital.
Sir Alex on the other hand, retired that summer and was succeeded by David Moyes.
United have failed to win the Premier League since Sir Alex’s departure, with a number of managers struggling to replicate the success he brought to the Reds during his 26-year-old tenure.
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