Cristiano Ronaldo | Sir Alex Ferguson
Sir Alex Ferguson and Cristiano Ronaldo were a match made in heaven at Manchester United. The greatest Premier League manager of all time and one of the best players in football history won so many trophies together.
They won three Premier League titles and one Champions League, among many other trophies, during a six-year spell together at Old Trafford. Fergie was instrumental in Ronaldo's rise from promising youngster at Sporting CP to Ballon d'Or winner in 2008.
However, one moment involving Ronaldo almost brought the hard-faced Scot to tears. Ferguson, who was one of the toughest managers in the business, always displayed his emotions on the touchline. That was often channelled into joy at scoring a goal or fury directed at an official.
Sir Alex Ferguson's Emotional Response to Cristiano Ronaldo
Sir Alex Ferguson
The iconic Scottish boss, the most decorated in football history, was known to let his emotions get the better of him on a number of occasions. Ferguson famously had a dressing room bust-up with David Beckham, while also falling out with Jaap Stam, Roy Keane and many others.
However, his emotional response when it came to Ronaldo was completely different. The Portuguese superstar has described Ferguson as a father figure several times in the past, and it's clear the 84-year-old shared that feeling.
Sir Alex Ferguson
Discussing Ronaldo's then-world record transfer to Real Madrid in 2009, the ex-Man Utd manager explained that he never believed the Portugal international would be at the club for too long. He said:
"I had a good relationship with the boy. He explained to me what he felt and it was exactly as [former assistant manager] Carlos [Queiroz] and I had thought two or three years ago. We never thought we were going to keep him for a long time.
"To have him for six years, we're very proud of that, very pleased. He's taken this opportunity to have another challenge and I respect him because he was a fantastic player for us. He was a good lad, he caused no problems and we wish him well."
Going one step further, he revealed that he 'nearly cried' when Ronaldo went to see him about the move. Replying when being reminded he had previously promised the player would stay for an extra five years, Fergie said:
Ferguson Wanted Benzema to Replace Ronaldo at Man Utd
Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema
Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema
Ferguson was annoyed by Real Madrid twice in the same summer as Los Blancos signed his star man, and the player Man Utd had lined up as a replacement. Karim Benzema was breaking through at Lyon and looked extremely likely to earn a big move.
That's exactly what happened as the French centre-forward joined Ronaldo at the Bernabeu. However, there's an alternate universe where Ferguson got his man and paired him with Wayne Rooney.
Ranking the greatest players in Real Madrid history featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos
Discussing the potential deal for Benzema, he said: "We went in for Benzema but, as far as we were concerned, the price tag was beyond his value. If other clubs want to go to that level, that's entirely their business. We had a value that we thought was fair and we didn't want to go above that position."
"Maybe Lyon thought we under-valued him and that's fine, it's their decision. They got €42m for him and they will be happy with that because they have done well. All this tells you about us is that we are sensible," he added.