In an interview with Piers Morgan, Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo revealed that he was on the verge of joining neighbourhood rivals Manchester City last summer.
The Portuguese superstar was extensively linked with a move to Etihad stadium while he was still playing for Juventus. But in a shocking turn of events, the 37-year-old picked Manchester United instead.
Since that controversy broke, there has been no confirmation of whether Ronaldo was truly on the verge of joining Manchester City, but the player has finally come up and admitted that he was.
Ronaldo claimed that his decision to stay away from City was deliberate and that renowned manager Alex Ferguson, who called and advised him against joining Pep Guardiola’s team, had a significant influence on his decision. The Real Madrid legend has stated that in the end, he made the choice that his heart desired, which was to go back to Old Trafford in what was billed as the homecoming of the once extraordinarily brilliant United wonderkid.
Cristiano Ronaldo tells @PiersMorgan: “I was close to joining Manchester City in 2021. I was surprised — as they tried hard to sign me”. 🚨🔴 #MUFC
But my heart, my history with Man United, Sir Alex Ferguson made the difference. The heart was speaking loud in that moment”. pic.twitter.com/OrAbVd6Krd
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 16, 2022
Here is what Cristiano Ronaldo said while discussing how the issue played out and what motivated him to make the decisions he did. As reported by Fabrizio Romano, he said:
“I was close to joining Manchester City in 2021. I was surprised — as they tried hard to sign me. But my heart, my history with Man United, Sir Alex Ferguson made the difference. The heart was speaking loud at that moment.”
Ronaldo returned to Manchester United after listening to his heart, but this time it hasn’t been well received. The 37-year-old’s much anticipated second stint at Old Trafford has been a disaster, and he may be second-guessing his choice.
To be fair to Ronaldo, he did have a terrific first season with 24 goals to his name, but it was irrelevant because United finished the season in the league and with zero trophies in their cabinet. However, the Portuguese forward’s second season has been terrible as he has been kept on the bench in the majority of the games.
The 37-year-old’s future remains uncertain following his explosive interview. However, it seems more and more likely that the player won’t last for long at Manchester United.
