Cristiano Ronaldo describes his first meeting with Sir Alex Ferguson

MOSCOW - MAY 21:  Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson (C) smiles with Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United after the UEFA Champions League Final match between Manchester United and Chelsea at the Luzhniki Stadium on May 21, 2008 in Moscow, Russia.  (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Sir Alex Ferguson has played a crucial role in Ronaldo’s rise as one of the best players in the world

The tale of how Manchester United persuaded Cristiano Ronaldo to join them has been told many times by a host of sources. It is one of the most sought after stories as to how a young lean Portuguese boy impressed the giants of world football in a single game against them.

Cristiano Ronaldo was speaking to Sky Sports at a recent event in which the 31-year-old has revealed the five words that Sir Alex Ferguson told him that convinced him to join the Red Devils.

Also Read: Real Madrid news: Cristiano Ronaldo gets angry at Gareth Bale after another frustrating outing

At the launch of his new CR7 Chapter 3 boots, Ronaldo revisited the incident in which Sir Alex Ferguson spoke to him for the first time. Ronaldo revealed, "The first game that I played against Manchester United was an unbelievable game. It was the perfect night, the perfect night. After the game, some of my teammates said: 'Listen, you're going to go to Manchester, trust me!"

The game was a pre-season friendly between United and Ronaldo's parent club, Sporting Lisbon, in which the young winger tormented John O'Shea on the wing which caught the attention of everyone present in the stadium. It is also a known fact that after the game, United players urged to Sir Alex to sign the Portuguese winger immediately. It was in that very summer that the then United no. 7 David Beckham was sold to Real Madrid before the start of 2003-04 season.

On his manager at Manchester United whom he considers as a fatherly figure, Ronaldo continued, "Sir Alex Ferguson was there, and they said he wants to speak with you. I go to the dressing room, he introduced me to the players. For me, I was a little bit shy. And Sir Alex Ferguson said to me: 'Listen, I want you now.' Everything came so fast, and two days after I speak to the coach and they take me to England, and I was in Manchester, and I signed."

Also Read: Cristiano Ronaldo to extend contract with Real Madrid until 2021

Ferguson took a huge gamble in bringing in the 18-year-old to England, who was once termed as a show pony after his debut for the Red Devils. Ronaldo and Ferguson proved everyone wrong as the Portuguese established himself as one of the best players and one of the best no. 7, United ever had.

He left for Real Madrid in 2009 only after winning every possible trophy in the colours of Manchester United.

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(Video Courtesy: BeanymanSports)

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Edited by Staff Editor