The Portuguese international soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo assumed this Wednesday that he “was close” to changing Juventus for the English champion Manchester City in 2021, but the history built in the ‘neighbor’ Manchester United changed the plans.
“Honestly, it was close. It was something that was talked about a lot. [Pep] guardiola [treinador do Manchester City] I said weeks ago that they tried very hard to have me, but I have my history at Manchester United. I was surprised, but it was a conscious decision, since the heart spoke louder at that moment”, pointed out the captain of the Portuguese team, whose first part of the interview granted to a British television channel was made public today.
On August 27, 2021, Cristiano Ronaldo left Juventus Italians to consummate his return to Old Trafford, in an operation estimated at 17 million euros, which was endorsed by former Scottish coach Alex Ferguson, with whom he grew up from 2003 to 2009.
“I think he was the key and made the difference at that time. I can’t be loyal if I don’t say that Manchester City was close. It was a conscious decision, which I do not regret to some extent. Now, I spoke to Alex Ferguson, who said it was impossible for me to go to Manchester City. I replied ‘he’s fine, boss,’ “he stressed, in one of several excerpts from the conversation with the English journalist Piers Morgan. Published since Sunday.
The 37-year-old forward made his debut with two goals in the home win over Newcastle (4-1), on matchday four of the 2021/22 edition of the English League, speaking of an “unbelievable and memorable day”, afterwards, given the official signing of his contract, having broken records for shirts sold in just 24 hours and for reactions to posts on social networks.
“Beat Lionel Messi? Of course I’m happy. I don’t follow the records, but it’s the records that haunt me. It’s good and it was another one in my book. Nobody expected it, because things changed a lot in those 72 hours. Juventus, but Manchester United was not in that group of teams. It surprised everyone, including me,” he added.
While noting that he saw the summer signings of Frenchman Raphaël Varane and Jadon Sancho as a sign that “things were going as they should”, Cristiano Ronaldo hoped he had seen more changes since his first spell at the club.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but the progress has been zero since Alex Ferguson left, especially in terms of technology. Compared to Real Madrid and Juventus, Manchester United is behind those clubs. A club of this size should be in the ‘top 3’. It is not at that level, but I hope it can get there in the coming years, ”he framed.
You Red Devils He started last season with the Norwegian coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the Portuguese’s teammate between 2003 and 2007, who ended up being fired in November 2021, after a win against Watford (1-4), on matchday 12.
“I love him and he’s a great person. What I keep is the hearts of the people. As a coach, he didn’t get what he wanted. It’s hard to take.” [o cargo de treinador] after Alex Ferguson, but he did a good job. Maybe he needed more time, but he will be a good coach. It was a pleasure working with him, even for a short period of time.”
Michael Carrick took the interim command until the arrival of the Austrian Ralf Rangnick, with ‘CR7’ shooting that “nobody understood the decision” and “had never heard of” the former sporting director of Lokomotiv Moscow, whom he did not even consider as a coach.
“I knew the club, but not its size or its history. When Solskjaer leaves, a top-level coach had to be brought in, not a sports director. The new coaches believe they found Coca Cola in the desert. invented several years ago.” Respect. Each coach has his criteria, but you reach a point where you disagree, ”defended the striker, who scored 24 goals in 38 duels in 2021/22.
Manchester United finished the season without titles and in sixth place in the ‘Premier League’, accessing the group stage of the Europa League, a scenario that would leave the Madeiran away from the Champions League for the first time in 19 years at the beginning of 2022/23.
“I have always been with the best coaches in the world, like Zinédine Zidane, Carlo Ancelotti, José Mourinho, Fernando Santos and Massimiliano Allegri. I have learned from everyone and when you see a new manager who wants to revolutionize football, I cannot agree. He is part of the business. At the end of the day, I am in the club to win and I want to help him with my experience. Some coaches don’t accept it, but it’s part of the job. “, he concluded.
Source: TSF
