Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly told one of his former Manchester United teammates that he “would never go” to a certain Premier League club - and it's not Liverpool.
Ronaldo, 40, currently of Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, enjoyed two stints in the Premier League with Manchester United between 2003-09 and 2021-22.
In his 206 English top-flight appearances, he registered 103 goals and 49 assists, helping United win the league on three consecutive occasions (2006/07, 2007/08, 2008/09).
In 2009, he left for Real Madrid, where he reached his peak and became embroiled in a historic rivalry with then-Barcelona icon Lionel Messi, going on to sign for Juventus before returning to Man Utd in 2021.
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However, that summer, he was not short of options with Manchester City reportedly keen only for Ronaldo’s decision to be swayed by his former boss, Sir Alex Ferguson.
"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 in November 2022.
“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 added.
"I spoke with him [Ferguson]... He said to me, 'It's impossible for you to come to Manchester City'.
"And I say, 'OK, Boss'. So I took the decision and... it was a good decision."
Just three years earlier, the Portuguese was reportedly interest in a move away from Real Madrid and was linked with a transfer to Arsenal, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain.
And his former teammate Patrice Evra revealed that Ronaldo was tempted by PSG but said he would never go to Arsenal.
"Has Cristiano ever wanted to come to PSG? Yes," Evra told RMC Sport (via Goal).
"There was Paris, Arsenal... That was before he signed for Juventus (in 2018).
"He had Chelsea, Juventus, and Paris. He said he would never go to Arsenal. He was interested in the (Parisian) project.
"You can criticise Cristiano, but he would have adapted. He would have made an effort. Look at what he is doing in Saudi Arabia. He is a Saudi!"
Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United, Premier League, Arsenal, Transfer News, Football, Patrice Evra
Luke Davies