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Jose Mourinho turned down the biggest Man Utd signing in history which could've saved his job

Home> Football

Updated 22:52 29 Aug 2023 GMT+1Published 12:00 20 Jan 2023 GMT

Jose Mourinho turned down the biggest Man Utd signing in history which could've saved his job

Mourinho left the club a few months later.

Daniel Marland

Daniel Marland

Jose Mourinho made it clear to Manchester United's hierarchy he didn't want Cristiano Ronaldo at the club - despite being offered the chance to sign him.

Ronaldo returned to United in 2021 before controversially departing in November. There was a chance to bring him back to Old Trafford even earlier than that, while he was playing for Real Madrid in 2018.

Mourinho and Ronaldo previously worked together for three years in the Spanish capital and Jim White of talkSPORT has claimed former vice chairman Ed Woodward wanted to broker a deal.

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White explained: "Over the years there have been many discussions over Ronaldo’s return to Manchester United.

"It might have happened when he finished at Real Madrid, when he was still in his pomp. But it wasn’t possible because Jose Mourinho made it clear he at that time had other priorities."

That summer instead saw Ronaldo move to Juventus, where he stayed for three years before moving back to England.

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Mourinho, meanwhile, had just taken United to second in the Premier League table and was desperate for the club to sign a central defender.

Among the names the 'Special One' wanted were Toby Alderweireld, Diego Godin and Jerome Boateng. It's potentially the reason Mourinho opted against a Ronaldo move.

Mourinho left United later that year. (Image
Alamy)

Instead, United signed midfielder Fred and right-back Diogo Dalot and a poor start to the season saw Mourinho sacked that December.

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Ronaldo scored 24 goals in all competitions for United last season but the club finished sixth in the Premier League with their lowest-ever points tally.

Erik ten Hag was named new manager in the summer and he made it his mission to get the Red Devils back on track.

He clashed with Ronaldo in regards to his place in the team, with tensions reaching their boiling point when Ronaldo refused to come off the bench in a 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in October.

Ronaldo could've returned to United three years earlier. (Image
Alamy)

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During the World Cup break, Ronaldo gave an explosive interview to close friend Piers Morgan in which he slammed Ten Hag and the United hierarchy.

They were left with no choice but to terminate Ronaldo's contract via mutual consent. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has since signed for Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr on a two-and-a-half year deal.

Featured Image Credit: Alamy

Topics: Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo, Jose Mourinho

Daniel Marland
Daniel Marland

Daniel is a social editor for SPORTbible after moving from the writing team. Nearly scored past Stormzy at Old Trafford once.

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@DanMarland_

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