The private conversation of Cristiano Ronaldo and Sir Alex Ferguson Erik ten Hag has a headache.
Sir Alex Ferguson had to personally intervene to persuade Cristiano Ronaldo to stay at Manchester United in the summer of 2008, and Erik ten Hag may be forced to do the same.
Erik ten Hag may have to borrow a page from Sir Alex Ferguson's playbook if he is to persuade Cristiano Ronaldo to make a transfer reversal and stay at Manchester United this summer.
The Red Devils have been rocked by the news that their iconic No. 7 is set to leave the club this summer, just one year after completing a sensational return to Old Trafford. The 37-year-old has reportedly requested to leave the club during the current transfer window if a suitable offer comes in, amid claims that he longs to play in the Champions League and compete for major honours.
United appear to be fighting a losing battle to keep the Portuguese superstar - and not for the first time in his career. The Red Devils faced a similar situation in 2008 and eventually prevailed thanks to Ferguson's intervention. If history repeats itself, Ten Hag could be the key this time.
Fourteen years ago, it appeared for all the world that Ronaldo's time in Manchester would end with a dream move to Real Madrid, as an epic transfer tug-of-war between the two European titans dominated the summer of '08. While Ferguson fought hard to put an end to speculation about the winger's future, amid a tumultuous war of words with then-Los Blancos president Ramon Calderon, Real Madrid received an unexpected boost when Ronaldo himself revealed his desire to play in the Spanish capital.
Ferguson flew out to Lisbon in the off-season to make a personal plea to the striker, with United in real danger of losing their prized asset to the La Liga giants. And the great Scot's efforts were rewarded.
"I can clarify that I will be playing for Manchester United next season," Ronaldo publically stated in early August 2008. "I'll be playing with my heart and soul, and I'll fight and honor the shirt with the same zeal and dedication that I've always shown."
"A few days ago, my coach [Ferguson] was kind enough to come and see me in Lisbon. It was an open and honest conversation between two people who respect each other and, I'm sure, have mutual affection and friendship.
"Sir Alex heard and understood to me, I listened to him, and we agreed that it would be best for both parties if I stayed at Old Trafford." It is not a sacrifice for me; rather, it is a great honor.
"In England, I have important things to win." I want to defend the European Championship and help United win the World Cup, not to mention the Premier League and other competitions."
Ronaldo went so far as to accept full responsibility for the unrest. "I was the one responsible for all of this controversy," he added, "but it was never my intention to cause friction between these two clubs."
Against all odds, Ferguson's intervention convinced the superstar to abandon his long-held ambitions and stay with United. The legendary manager later admitted that he persuaded Ronaldo to stay by negotiating a gentleman's agreement that would allow the United No. 7 to leave the following summer, which he did.
Ferguson wrote in his autobiography about the incident: "'I know you want to go to Real Madrid, but I'd rather shoot you than sell you to that guy [Calderon] now,' I told Ronaldo. If you perform well and don't annoy us, and someone comes along and offers us a world record fee, we'll let you go.'"
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