SIR ALEX FERGUSON tried to persuade Cristiano Ronaldo to move to Barcelona rather than Real Madrid, according to claims in a new book about the star.
Manchester United were forced to part with the superstar for a then world record fee of £80million in 2009.
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Ronaldo moved to Old Trafford six years earlier and, after three inconsistent seasons, soon established himself as one of the best players in the world.
In 2007, he finished runner up to Kaka in the Ballon d’Or standings, before winning his first a year later.
However, after a controversial 2006 World Cup, in which he became Public Enemy No.1 among England fans, the first soundings began to appear about him moving to Real Madrid.
Sensing an opportunity, Los Blancos went on the attack, going public with their interest in the United’s No.7.
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In a new biography of the Portuguese superstar, which will be released on October 19 and is being serialised by Spanish daily AS, it is claimed Ferguson was so angry, that when he realised his attempts to keep Ronaldo had ended, he tried to convince Barcelona to make a move for him — anyone but Real Madrid.
The legendary Scot was determined to maintain his authority in front of the watching and world and made bold statements such as: “I wouldn’t sell that mob [Real Madrid] a virus.”
After United’s triumph in the 2008 Champions League, it looked like that season’s stand-out player would leave the Premier League after ‘completing his mission’.
But Ferguson saved some face by convincing him to stay for one more season, before eventually leaving for the world-record fee a year on.
And, 367 goals and two Champions League triumphs later, £80m looks like an absolute snip.
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