Patrice Evra has revealed that Cristiano Ronaldo told him he could return to Manchester United, while the club’s former full-back also said that Sir Alex Ferguson thought the Portuguese would return.
The French defender played alongside Ronaldo during his stint at the club until leaving for Juventus in 2014.
And with Evra enjoying plenty of success during his time under Ferguson he says the pair enjoyed a close relationship, leading to the Scot opening up on a number of matters.
“Before Ferguson left we talked maybe two weeks before,” Evra said according to the Express. “He said ‘Patrice, I will be here for another five years, easy’. I was like ‘yes boss, let’s do it’.
“I was so convinced. He was looking younger and younger, it was amazing.
“He even told me 99 per cent Cristiano Ronaldo will come (back). I was like ‘wow, we are ready to bounce back and win the Champions League again’.”
Evra also said that he did his bit to bring Ronaldo back to United.
“Yeah, yeah. A lot,” he said when asked if he had tried to get him back. “And he said ‘but for the moment I don’t know’.
“When I was talking with him he said ‘but you know the way I love Manchester United’.
“And I remember he said when we played against Madrid at Old Trafford (in 2013) ‘all the night I couldn’t sleep, my nose was bleeding from the emotion’.
“I remember when he came onto the pitch and I saw the way the fans stood for him, it was just amazing.”
Ronaldo’s future has been the subject of hot debate with the horrific showing against Barcelona leading the player to declare that he will leave unless Rafa Benitez is sacked.
The 30-year-old still has two more years on his Real deal, with there already growing reports this could be his last season at the club.
He has refused to rule out a move while his close friend Jose Semedo thinks he will re-join United.
Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes has said he doubts the move will happen though.
