Football NewsCristiano Ronaldo refused hints about leaving Manchester United long before he was pushed through a record move to Real Madrid
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The Red Devils grabbed the Portuguese superstar from Sporting in the summer of 2003. He would have spent six memorable years at Old Trafford, and the five-time winner Ballon d’Or was collecting the first of his Golden Balls while in England, along with three titles in the Premier League and the crown of the Champions League.

 

CR7 dropped hints about leaving Man United

Cristiano Ronaldo refused hints about leaving Manchester United long before he was pushed through a record move to Real Madrid, ex-teammate Nani has admitted. The Red Devils grabbed the Portuguese superstar from Sporting in the summer of 2003. He would have spent six memorable years at Old Trafford, and the five-time winner Ballon d’Or was collecting the first of his Golden Balls while in England, along with three titles in the Premier League and the crown of the Champions League. Reputation has been established as one of the best players on the planet, with that standing having been enhanced since to now sit alongside the all-time greats. Ronaldo has been striving for continuous improvement throughout his career, with a 35-year-old to be checked and challenged.

Ronaldo made a high season at Juventus

That mentality brought him from his homeland to Juventus via Manchester, and Madrid, with Nani, conceded that a switch to Santiago Bernabéu had thundered a few months before reaching an agreement. He said in the United’s official podcast. We would have stayed after the training to do competitions, and they Anderson and Ronaldo were my team-mates, “Sometimes Ronaldo told us openly:” I’ve been here for six or seven years, I think that’s enough for me,” he said that a couple of times. “But it was always “I will see, I will see, I will see,” but we never thought that the move from Real would happen quickly. After we won the league in the second year of his departure, he made a high season, so we were surprised anyway.”

Nani wanted to make his move

Four years after Ronaldo left, Sir Alex Ferguson left United as he headed into retirement. Nani, at that moment, wanted to make his move but hung on for another 12 months before eventually returning to Sporting on loan in 2014. He added: “When Ferguson wanted to leave, I felt that I also wanted to leave. I have been there for so many years, and now it’s a new coach. So I think it’s time for me to challenge myself in another team”. Then I had a significant injury, I recovered and went to the World Cup and the season after I was ready to leave the club in my mind. That’s it.”

Nani at Orlando City

Nani, who now on the MLS books side of Orlando City, took 230 appearances for United, and added on his decision to sever ties with the Red Devils: “I will tell you the truth. After leaving Manchester United, it will never be the same to play for another club. It’s not the same. “As a club, as a composition, the quality: everyone knows that. I’m not insulting anyone. Everyone knows that: that’s why Man Utd is Man Utd, all over the world. “It was great to be back to Sporting because I came home, close to my family and friends. It was good to breathe a little bit, recover and get some energy back and motivation, and find a new challenge.

“In truth, it was a great season for Sporting for me that year. I played very well in the Champions League and scored a couple of goals. I liked the football at that time.”