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Alex Ferguson's 20 Second Phone Call To Cristiano Ronaldo That Made Him Turn Down Man City

Alex Ferguson's 20 Second Phone Call To Cristiano Ronaldo That Made Him Turn Down Man City

The former United manager seemingly played a crucial role in helping his old club to land the forward this summer.

Tom Fenton

Tom Fenton

A new report has revealed the vital role that Sir Alex Ferguson played in helping his former side to land Cristiano Ronaldo this summer ahead of rivals Manchester City.

When it became common knowledge that the 36-year-old was angling for a way out of Juventus, the race soon began for his signature.

In the final days of the summer transfer window, it seemed as if, rather inexplicably, that Manchester City were going to land Ronaldo - and thereby solve their striker dilemma.

However, in a 24 hour period, the narrative switched completely, with United quickly emerging as the front runners to re-sign their former Number 7 - going on to wrap up the deal on Deadline Day.

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But how exactly did United manage to get the better of their cross-city rivals on this occasion?

A new report from the Daily Star helps shed some light on what transpired, revealing the details of Sir Alex Ferguson's potentially pivotal phone call with Ronaldo.

The Star states that a phone call between the pair, right when it looked like a transfer to City was a district possibility, could have swung the pendulum in United's favour.

When Ronaldo answered the phone to his mentor and father-figure he wanted to chat, but all Sir Alex said was "don't join City"...before hanging up.

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PA

Ronaldo was apparently flattered, to say the least, and conversed with senior figures at United, before instructing Mendes to strike the deal. Within 72 hours, he had been unveiled as the Premier League's highest-paid player at Old Trafford.

While it's not known whether that phone call intervention was the deciding factor, it is certainly true that the former Real Madrid star values the opinion of his great mentor.

Manchester City, meanwhile, were left to ponder what might have been in the days that followed. Pep Guardiola spoke about the club's failure to sign Ronaldo back in August, striking a slightly regretful tone.

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PA

"Cristiano will decide where he wants to play: not Manchester City, not myself. There are many things that right now look far, far away. I know today is a tough press conference for myself," Guardiola told the media at the time.

"These players decide. They knock on the door. They go. After that there are situations I cannot control, because it is not my business and I am focused to do what we have to do and the players we have right now."

For both manchester clubs, it was a defining transfer window that neither will forget in a hurry.

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Topics: Manchester City, Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson, Premier League, Cristiano Ronaldo