Patrice Evra reveals Cristiano Ronaldo & Gareth Bale nearly joined Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United in 2013

The Portuguese star did return to the Red Devils in 2021 and left in 2023.

Patrice Evra has disclosed that Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo were very close to signing with Manchester United back in 2013. Evra claimed that Ronaldo had consented to rejoin the team, and Sir Alex Ferguson was eager to recruit Bale as well.

But in the end, the club declined to pay the £200 million total for both players, which resulted in a lost chance to make a big deal right and eventually led to Ferguson’s retirement.

Evra, who spent seven trophy-filled years playing for Ferguson, claims the Scot intended to be around for a bit longer. He even made an attempt to get Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo, two big-name players.

When asked if Ferguson’s retirement announcement made him cry, Evra replied, “Almost.” It was a very depressing day.”

He added: “I didn’t cry but I was in shock. The reason why was two weeks before, he brought me into his office. He said, ‘Patrice look at those people. They think I’m going to retire. I’m going to be here for another 10 years.’

“He also said, ‘I’m 99 per cent sure we will have Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale. I just need these two players to win the Champions League again. He needed £200 million but the club refused.”

Evra continued: “I remember getting out of his office. I was thinking, ‘Cristiano Ronaldo is back and Gareth Bale [is on his way]. We are back in business after winning the title.’

“Then, one morning, I came back to the training ground and there was lots of paparazzi.

“When we arrived in the dressing room, the player liaison officer said the gaffer wanted to have a chat. It was the first time I’d seen him in his normal clothes.

“He [Ferguson] said, ‘Okay guys. I’m going to resign. I’ve made the decision because my wife has lost a sister.'”

After Ferguson’s retirement, the club suffered a massive dip in their performance and many managers were hired and fired but they never managed to bring back United’s dominant era. After a decade they are still struggling to win games as under Erik ten Hag, and now his future is up in the air.

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