Bruno Fernandes didn't seem pleased to meet Manchester United and Portugal teammate Cristiano Ronaldo following his comments in an interview.🌟 (0:16)
Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo said he was close to signing for bitter rivals Manchester City last year but former🌟 manager Alex Ferguson asked him not to.
Ronaldo said Ferguson persuaded him to re-join United for a second spell at Old🌟 Trafford when he moved from Juventus in August, 2024 on a two-year deal, returning to the club where he won🌟 eight major trophies from 2003-2009.
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"Well, honestly, it was close... It's something they spoke🌟 [about] a lot and [Manchester City manager Pep] Guardiola said two weeks ago, I guess, that they tried hard to🌟 have me," Ronaldo told Piers Morgan in an interview for TalkTV, the first part of which was aired on Wednesday.
"But🌟 as you know, as my history [was] in Manchester United, your heart, your feeling... make the difference. And of course,🌟 as well, Sir Alex Ferguson.
"I was surprised... But it was a conscious decision. Because the heart speaks, speaking loud in🌟 that moment."
He added that Ferguson's intervention helped him make up his mind to join United.
"I think it was the key.🌟 It was the difference in that moment, but I cannot be loyal if I will, I wouldn't say that Manchester🌟 City wasn't close," Ronaldo said.
"I spoke with him [Ferguson]... He said to me that, 'It's impossible for you to come🌟 to Manchester City'.
"And I say, 'OK, Boss'. So I took the decisions and... it was a good decision."
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In an excerpt of the interview published on Sunday, Ronaldo said that United had🌟 betrayed him and alleged he was being forced out of the club.
The Portugal forward also said United did not support🌟 him when his daughter was taken to hospital in July, doubting him and showing a lack of empathy when he🌟 did not arrive on time for pre-season training.
United said on Monday that they would address Ronaldo's comments that he felt🌟 betrayed by the club and was being forced out only after establishing the full facts.
Co-chairman Joel Glazer, football director John🌟 Murtough, chief executive Richard Arnold and manager Erik ten Hag held a meeting on Monday while United have also sought🌟 legal advice about how best to solve the issue.
Ten Hag, according to ESPN sources, believes he cannot work with Ronaldo🌟 again after the striker said that he "doesn't respect" the Dutchman, and has communicated that view to the Glazers, Arnold🌟 and Murtough.
Sources have also told ESPN that the majority of the squad do not believe there is a way back🌟 for Ronaldo particularly because Ten Hag has taken such a hardline on squad discipline since taking over as a manager🌟 in the summer.
Information from ESPN's Rob Dawson was used in this report.
