RED RONALDO LEFT PEP FEELING BLUE
Bombshell sent shockwaves through Guardiola and City
Cristiano Ronaldo could have easily been lining up in blue instead of red when Manchester rivals City and United clash at Old Trafford tomorrow. Here JEREMY CROSS reveals how in one of the most sensational transfers in Premier League history, the Portuguese star snubbed a move to the Etihad and returned to their neighbours.
PEP GUARDIOLA was struggling to contain his anger as he tried to process the news he had not seen coming.
The Manchester City manager had been preparing to address the media ahead of his side’s Premier League game against Arsenal when his director of football, Txiki Begiristain, dropped the bombshell that sent shockwaves through the club.
He told Guardiola that Cristiano Ronaldo was heading back to Manchester, but not to the Etihad. He was returning to Old Trafford.
It was a crushing blow to the greatest manager in the world, who within minutes found himself fielding questions about his club’s pursuit of an iconic star. Six weeks of negotiations had been reduced to rubble. While those on the Zoom call did not know it, Guardiola did – and the disappointment was etched all over his face.
Across town, the celebrations and back slapping were starting at United, who had just pulled off one of the most stunning deals ever.
The fact it came at almost the 11th hour, at the expense of their “noisy neighbours”, made it all the sweeter. United had long harboured a dream of re-signing Ronaldo, who left to join Real Madrid for a then world-record £80million in 2009.
His astonishing success in the Spanish capital, combined with Sir Alex Ferguson’s decision to retire in 2013, meant that three
attempts to lure him back in the last seven years had failed.
So when it became clear in July that Ronaldo wanted to leave Juventus following a breakdown in his relationship with chairman Andrea Agnelli and senior teammate Leonardo Bonucci, United were placed on red alert.
City’s hierarchy were ahead of the game and had opened talks with Ronaldo’s agent, Jorge Mendes. Having failed to lure England captain Harry Kane to the Etihad, Ronaldo felt like a more than adequate alternative.
United’s powerbrokers, including executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and commercial director Richard Arnold, sprang into action when the green light to hijack the deal had been given by club owners the Glazers.
United, who have a stronger relationship with Mendes than City, were not going to let Ronaldo elude them for a fourth time, with one club official saying, “I couldn’t accept him in sky blue. Ever. I’d rather cut my eyes out.”
The small number of people involved in United’s chase of Ronaldo, including Fergie, had been sworn to secrecy. United decided to play their trump card in the final week of the window and got Fergie to ring Ronaldo.
When Ronaldo answered the phone to his mentor and father-figure he wanted to chat, but all Fergie said was “don’t join City” before hanging up. The coded message was brief but clear. United wanted him back.
Ronaldo was flattered and spoke to senior figures at United before instructing Mendes, below, to strike the deal – and within 72 hours he had become the highest-paid star in the Premier League at the age of 36.
United wanted to announce it on the opening weekend of the season, but Mendes, was uncomfortable about going behind City’s back and insisted on contacting Begiristain personally to break the bad news.
Wary of the fact City now knew what was happening, United brought forward their announcement confirming Ronaldo had been snared to tea-time on Friday,August 27.
City have since denied being interested in Ronaldo, but it is understood the champions had agreed a fee with Juventus, believed to be £25m, as well as personal terms.
At least Guardiola got to find out before the rest of the world, which might explain why he was so negative when asked about the impending arrival of Ronaldo that the Spaniard knew wasn’t now going to happen.
He said: “There are few players, Cristiano Ronaldo is included and Messi of course, who decide where they are going to play. 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.”
The rest, as they say, is history, but it will be an afternoon both Manchester clubs will never forget.
I couldn’t accept him in sky blue. I’d rather cut my eyes out