Cristiano Ronaldo's long-awaited return to Manchester United happened in 2021, but had Sir Alex Ferguson got his way, he'd have been back at Old Trafford much sooner
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 16: Former Manager Sir Alex Ferguson congratulates Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United on scoring his 700th club career goals ahead of the Premier League match between Manchester United and Newcastle United at Old Trafford on October 16, 2022 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
Sir Alex Ferguson wanted Cristiano Ronaldo to return in 2013(Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
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Sir Alex Ferguson believed that Cristiano Ronaldo was '99 per cent' coming back to Manchester United in 2013 - and was so confident that he told Patrice Evra as much. That's why Evra was so surprised when Ferguson announced his retirement a matter of days later.
Having been sold to Real Madrid for £80million in 2009, Ronaldo was frequently linked with a return to Old Trafford. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner would eventually come back in 2021, although he was past his prime following a spell with Juventus.
Ferguson wanted to bring Ronaldo back when he was still at the top of his game and United had been crowned Premier League champions. That's not all either.
Evra claims that the legendary Red Devils boss had planned to sign Gareth Bale from Tottenham, too, perhaps as a gift to his successor, David Moyes. "I couldn't believe it," Evra said of Ferguson's retirement to the Athletic.
"Because one week before that, I went to Ferguson's office and he said, 'Patrice, 99 per cent, Cristiano Ronaldo is coming and I'm going to bring Gareth Bale, too. And those people who think I'm going to retire? I'm going to retire when I'm maybe 100 years old'.
"I couldn't understand it. It was a big shock. I remember driving home and my car was in auto drive. We had a meeting in the dressing room and Ferguson wasn't wearing a tracksuit.
"I said, 'This is bad news, all the players are going to get killed or something is going to happen'. He said I'm retired. But I still thought it was a joke and he would change his mind."
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 13: (MINIMUM FEE 250GBP) Cristiano Ronaldo and Patrice Evra of Manchester United celebrate winning the Barclays Premiership in the dressing room after the Barclays Premiership match between Manchester United and West Ham at Old Trafford on May 13 2007 in Manchester, England. (Photo by John Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)
Patrice Evra was looking forward to being team-mates with Cristiano Ronaldo again (Image: John Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)
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As it turns out, Bale did end up playing alongside Ronaldo - in Madrid. The pair enjoyed five trophy-laden years together and United fans were left ruining what could've been.
The real reason that Ferguson retired, however, was nothing to do with football. The Scot wanted to support his wife, Lady Cathy, following the death of her twin sister, Bridget, in October 2012.
"I definitely would have carried on," Ferguson revealed to the Telegraph in 2015. "I saw she was watching television one night, and she looked up at the ceiling. I knew she was isolated. Her and Bridget were twins, you know?"
Real Madrid's Welsh striker Gareth Bale (L) and Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo celebrate at the end of the UEFA Champions League Group B football match Real Madrid CF vs Juventus at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on October 23, 2013. Madrid won the match 2-1. AFP PHOTO / DANI POZO (Photo by DANI POZO/AFP via Getty Images)
Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo had success at Real Madrid instead(Image: DANI POZO/AFP via Getty Images)
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Lady Cathy, who died three years ago, had previously convinced Ferguson not to retire in 2002. "But when I told her this time I was going to retire she had no objection whatsoever," he explained. "I knew she wanted me to do it."
Evra would depart United a year later after a difficult season under Moyes, who was sacked after just eight months, and later interim manager Ryan Giggs.