Rio Ferdinand tried to get Ronaldo back to Manchester United

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has revealed that he tried to persuade Cristiano Ronaldo to rejoin the club last summer.

Ronaldo was linked with a return to United last summer but opted to stay with Real Madrid and sign a new record contract.

The Portuguese star signed for United in 2003 and played at Old Trafford for six years before moving to Madrid in 2009 for a world record fee of £80 million.12

Ferdinand claimed that, after Sir Alex Ferguson had retired and the speculation about Ronaldo’s future was rife, he attempted to sweet talk him into coming back to England.

“He was one of the most dialled people on my phone at the time. As footballers you keep your cards close to your chest,” Ferdinand told the Sun.

“If he was going to leave Real Madrid, I think Manchester United would have been the place he would have come to. That’s my view – but no one will ever know.

“I think the opportunity has gone now. If we could have done it, I think it would have been last summer. He’s signed a new deal at Real now.”