Rio Ferdinand in constant contact with Ronaldo over Man U return
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The Portuguese was “one of the most dialled people” on the defender’s phone during the summer, but he does not expect a move to now happen after he penned a new Real Madrid deal
Rio Ferdinand has revealed he was in constant contact with Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo over a possible return to Manchester United during the summer.
The Portuguese, who is tipped to win the Ballon d’Or, admitted in July he “missed” the Old Trafford outfitamid strenuous speculation regarding a Santiago Bernabeu exit.
Ronaldo penned a new five-year contract with Real Madrid in September, but United manager David Moyes says he one day hopes of coaching the 28-year-old and Ferdinand admits he tried hard to force a return.
“He was one of the most dialled people on my phone at the time! But I think the opportunity has gone now,” Ferdinand is quoted as saying by the Daily Mirror.
“If we could have done it, I think it would have been last summer. He’s signed a new deal at Real now.
“As footballers you don’t really let on too much to each other. It’s like a chess game. And in those situations you have got your one and two first-choice moves or scenarios that you want to happen.
“So to let people know is sort of letting the cat out of the bag. You play your cards close to your chest. But if he was going to leave Real Madrid, I think Manchester United would have been the place he would have come to.”
Ronaldo will find out if he is Fifa’s World Player of the Year on Monday – ahead of four-time winner Lionel Messi and Franck Ribery – and Ferdinand has backed his former team-mate to be crowned.
“We had a debate about it in training, and I think he has been the best in the calendar year, definitely, he’s the best,” he said. “Look at his goals! He’s scored more goals than some clubs have in the calendar year.
“He is a great model to any young player to look up to. He got to being World Player of the Year back in 2008 and he wasn’t satisfied.
“Ronaldo has gone on again to another level and he should have won it a couple of seasons ago when Real Madrid won La Liga.
“He wants to become the best player in the world again. He’s still got people doubting him – maybe there’s a jealousy element to it – and he wants to prove them people wrong. That’s how you become the best.”
By Alex Young
ABOUT: Nana Kwesi Coomson
[email protected] An Entrepreneur, Corporate Social Responsibility, Corporate Communications Executive and Philanthropist. Editor-in-Chief of www.233times.com. A Senior Journalist with Ghanaian Chronicle Newspaper. An alumnus of Adisadel College where he read General Arts. His first degree is in Bachelor of Arts - Political Science (major) and History (minor) from the University of Ghana. He holds MSc in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Energy with Public Relations (PR) from the Robert Gordon University in the United Kingdom. He is a 2018 Mandela Washington Fellow who studied at Clark Atlanta University in USA on the Business and Entrepreneurship track.
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Jul 19, 2023 comment
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