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vraSir Alex Ferguson had a truly incredible run as manager for Manchester United.
Across his 27 years at Old Trafford, Ferguson made United an absolute force to be reckoned with, winning 13 Premier League titles, two Champions League trophies, five FA Cups, four English League Cups, ten Community Shields, a FIFA Club World Cup and a UEFA Supercup.
It’s fair to say that the Scottish manager was a true legend leading United and no manager has been able to live up to his legacy since.
Since Ferguson retired in 2013, Erik ten Hag is the eighth manager to step up to the plate and attempt to get United back to their winning ways experienced with the 82-year-old.
Unfortunately for the club, it looks as though a ninth may be on the cards, with ten Hag being given two games to save his job at Old Trafford.
The Dutchman was reassured at the start of the summer that he has the full backing of the United hierarchy, with it being reaffirmed recently despite the rocky start. However, ten Hag needs to start getting results to ensure he retains the support of the likes of Dan Ashworth, Omar Berrada and Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
This summer has seen Erik ten Hag reunite with some of his former players, Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, making his transfer dreams come true.
However, claims from a former United star suggest that Ferguson wasn’t always as lucky as ten Hag has recently been, as, despite his success at the club, not all of his requests were backed up by the United bosses.
Patrice Evra discusses the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson
Former left-back Patrice Evra has recently revealed that before Ferguson’s retirement, the Scottish manager requested £200 million to secure an incredible double signing of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.
Ronaldo had supposedly agreed to return to United from Real Madrid, however, Ferguson was just as keen to sign Bale alongside him, but the Glazers refused to release the funds for the deal.
Speaking on the Obi One Podcast about Ferguson’s retirement, Evra commented: “It was one of the most sad days. I didn’t cry but I was in shock,”
Evra continued: “The reason why is that two weeks before, he brought me to his office and said, ‘Look at those people, they think I’m going to retire, I’m going to be here another 10 years but we need to win more Champions Leagues.’
“He said, ‘Patrice, Cristiano Ronaldo has agreed 99% to come back and Gareth Bale’. He needed £200 million and the club refused. Now they have spent a billion or whatever.
“That was in 2013, I remember when I came out of his office I was like Cristiano is back, Gareth Bale… we’re back in business after winning the title.”
If this is true, it’s only imaginable what peak Ronaldo and Bale could have done under Ferguson whilst United were at the top of English football.
| Patrice Evra reveals that in 2013, both Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale had agreed to join Manchester United.
However, the club declined to pay the combined fee of £200m, and soon after, Sir Alex Ferguson decided to retire.
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pic.twitter.com/zreavoT80Z— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) September 30, 2024
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