Alex Ferguson told me his final Man Utd transfer plan – he retired after Glazers said no’

Sir Alex Ferguson had lined up moves for Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale in the same transfer window, but retired after Manchester United refused to sanction the deals.

United legend Patrice Evra has claimed Ferguson told him that Ronaldo and Bale had agreed to join the club in 2013 for a combined £200million, with the Red Devils boss stating that he did not plan to retire for another decade as he wanted to win more Champions Leagues.

However, Evra says United “refused to give him those £200m” and Ferguson ultimately retired at the end of the season. Evra made the bombshell claims in an appearance on The Obi One Podcast, which is hosted by former Chelsea star John Obi Mikel.

When asked about Ferguson’s decision to retire, he said: “One of the most saddest days, I didn’t cry, I was in shock. The reason why is because two weeks before, he brought me into his office [and said], ‘Patrice look at those people, they think I’m going to retire, I’m going to be [here for] another ten years, but we need to win more Champions Leagues’.

“He said, ‘Patrice, Cristiano Ronaldo agreed 99 per cent to come back and Gareth Bale [too]’. He needed £200m and the club refused to give him those £200m and now, they spent a billion on whatever.

“It was 2013, just before he retired, so that’s why I remember when I got out of his office, I was like, ‘Cristiano is back, Gareth Bale, we’re back in business’ after winning the title and everything.

“That’s what he said, ‘I need to win more Champions Leagues’.” Ultimately, Ronaldo remained at Real Madrid until 2018 when he left to join Juventus and he did eventually return to Old Trafford in 2021.

 

However, his second stint ended acrimoniously when his contract was terminated after an interview with Piers Morgan where he criticised the club and he is now playing for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.

Bale, meanwhile, did leave Spurs in 2013 but made a big money move to Real Madrid instead of United. He spent eight years in Madrid, winning five Champions Leagues and three LaLiga titles, before retiring in 2023 after a brief stint at Los Angeles FC.