Evra on Ronaldo, Bale United transfers before Ferguson retired

Evra says Ferguson was close to re-signing Ronaldo (Photos via YouTube & Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Manchester United legend Patrice Evra has made the big claim that Sir Alex Ferguson was all set to sign Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale shortly before he retired from management.

Evra, speaking to John Obi Mikel on his podcast on YouTube, opened up on the Glazers blocking Ferguson from bringing Ronaldo and Bale to Old Trafford, as they wouldn’t back him with the £200million that would be required to make those signings.

The Frenchman seems to suggest in his interview that Ferguson was not looking to retire that summer, with the legendary Red Devils boss seemingly keen to keep on going and to try to win the Champions League.

Ferguson went out on a high by guiding Man Utd to the 2012/13 Premier League title, but the Scottish tactician then called time on his incredible career, with the club struggling under a number of different managers ever since.

Evra’s stunning Manchester United transfer claim

Evra has perhaps hinted that United’s owners blocking the Ronaldo and Bale deals might be what led Fergie to decide to retire after all, though it remains to be seen how accurate this really is, as it slightly goes against what numerous other sources have said over the years.

Discussing Ferguson’s retirement, Evra said: “One of the most saddest days, I didn’t cry, I was in shock. 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 [here for] another ten years, but we need to win more Champions Leagues’.

“He said, ‘Patrice, Cristiano Ronaldo agreed 99 per cent to come back and Gareth Bale‘. He needed £200m and the club refused to give him those £200m and now, they spent a billion on whatever.

“It was 2013, just before he retired, so that’s 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.”

Ronaldo ended up staying at Real Madrid, though he would later return to United for a second spell in the summer of 2021, while Bale also made the move to Real Madrid from Tottenham in the summer of 2013.

Needless to say, things could have been very different for MUFC if Ferguson had stayed a bit longer and been given players like that to work with.

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