AT THIS TIME: Cristiano Ronaldo departed Manchester United for Real Madrid in a world-record £80 million trade thirteen years ago, defying Sir Alex Ferguson's desires.
Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo and manager Sir Alex Ferguson
Real Madrid signing Cristiano Ronaldo was opposed by Sir Alex Ferguson.
Cristiano Ronaldo joined Real Madrid on July 1, 2009, following months of accusations, counterclaims, disagreements, complaints, backchanneling, and discussions.
When Ronaldo smashed the world record for the highest transfer fee, he was only 24 years old. Real completed a lengthy and difficult pursuit of a player they had long toyed with by spending £80 million to sign the Portuguese forward.
United hesitantly agreed to the offer. Ronaldo had a record of 118 goals in 292 games during the previous six years, so Sir Alex Ferguson was aware of his skill. The United manager was dissatisfied with every aspect of the Ronaldo sale. He labeled the summer's escalation in the transfer market as "stupid," and he had plenty of direct criticism for Real Madrid.
Although Real's persistent pursuit of Ronaldo eventually paid off, they did not gain any allies in Manchester. Ramon Calderon, the president of Real, who had overseen the club's efforts to get Ronaldo, infuriated Ferguson in particular.
Ferguson routinely used his platform in the year prior to Ronaldo's transfer to Real to criticize the Spanish powerhouses' tactics. You adapt to this,On May 24, 2008, when rumors regarding Real Madrid's interest in Ronaldo were swirling, he commented, "Madrid's behavior on these things.
"I read that Calderon made the excellent claim that slavery had been abolished for a very long time. Did they tell Franco that, then? It's Jesus! Give me a break, please. Great teams, like Barcelona, have much higher moral standards than Real Madrid will ever have.
During his formal presentation at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo waves to the crowd.
Real Madrid debuted Cristiano Ronaldo in July 2009.
A month later, United officially complained to FIFA, charging Real with trying to purposely upset their star player.Ferguson was adamantly unwilling to yield to Real's shock tactics.
In June 2008, he stated, "I've met with the Glazers a few times." They have a 'To hell with them' mentality. Without a shadow of a doubt, they would put a player in the stands to make a statement. should resist caving in to their demands. They have balls, I can tell you that much. They have made me happy in that regard.
Real kept up the pressure on United to sell and kept up their all-out charm offensive on Ronaldo despite that. Things broke down in December 2008, with Ferguson famously saying, "You don't think we'd enter into a contract with that mob, do you?"It's Jesus. They wouldn't get a virus from me.
Ferguson realized at this point that he couldn't keep Ronaldo. However, he thought he had some control over the Portuguese winger's final destination. He had a straightforward outlook: everywhere but Real Madrid. According to Guillem Balague's book, "Cristiano Ronaldo: The Biography," Ferguson contacted Barcelona to determine their interest in Ronaldo while also writing to Calderon to ask him to cease courting the player.
Balague says: "For weeks he'd pursued a kind of Machiavellian strategy, but when he saw he couldn't convince Cristiano to stay, he got in touch with Barcelona to persuade them to make a bid. Except Real Madrid. Cristiano, though, had already decided where he wanted to go.
Ronaldo was intent on moving to Real, so Ferguson instead contacted his agent, Jorge Mendes, and proposed a deal: if he played well throughout the 2008–09 season, he would receive his transfer to Real. That's exactly how things turned out in the end. On June 11, United agreed to Real's £80 million offer, and on July 1 the deal became official.
Calderon, Ramon
Sir Alex Ferguson did not like Ramon Calderon.
Former Real manager Calderon offered his perspective on the situation: "I don't know why, but Ferguson is a little bit fascinated with Real Madrid," he remarked. He doesn't think much of us. "No, Cristiano," he replied. He will depart, but not for Real Madrid.
"They were willing to pay what (United) were asking, and they offered the player to Barcelona among other clubs. What matters is that Cristiano made the perfect statement when he declared, "No, Real Madrid or nothing." I'm glad he arrived because he is an inspiration to everyone, including the youngsters and his teammates, with the way he plays.
Ferguson set aside his dislike of Real in his closing remarks and paid tribute to Ronaldo. He stated, "Cristiano has been a fantastic player for Manchester United. "During his six years at Old Trafford, he became the best football player in the world. The success of the club during that period has been greatly influenced by his contribution, as well as his talent, capacity for amusement, and contagious charisma.
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