Rio Ferdinand has shared a humorous anecdote about his former wife, a former TOWIE star, who was extremely upset with him after he took a late-night call from Cristiano Ronaldo.
The call came in at 1 a.m. in connection with Manchester United.
In the summer of 2021, Ronaldo, who was contemplating his future at Juventus, was reportedly considering a return to Manchester.
Although there was speculation about him joining Manchester City, a move that would have seen him reunite with Pep Guardiola, the deal did not materialise.
Manchester United, where Ronaldo initially made his name, refused to let their rival club sign him.
Instead, Ronaldo rejoined Manchester United, only to leave less than 18 months later following a disagreement with Dutch coach Erik ten Hag.
Ronaldo was subsequently released as a free agent.
Former United teammate Ferdinand has been discussing a sensational retracing of steps to English football with Ronaldo, saying on the Portuguese’s YouTube channel: “We spoke on the phone when you were going to go and sign at Manchester United, when you were negotiating to come back, and my wife wanted to kill me!
It was 1 o’clock in the morning, and you rang me: ‘Rio, what’s going on? Can we sort this out?’ You ended up signing for United.
Initially, that must have been a beautiful thing for you because I remember on the phone you sounded so happy. Then obviously, it went a bit sour.”
Ronaldo responded by saying: “I don’t need to prove if I’m right or wrong; it is not my issue any more. I say what I have to say.
For me it is done. But to be honest, what I wish for Manchester is what I wish for me—the best—that they can make the best team they can. I love that club. I’m not that kind of guy that forgot the past.”
Ronaldo won three Premier League titles, the Champions League, and the first of his Golden Balls during a memorable first stint with United.
His reputation in the eyes of United supporters was tarnished somewhat by his acrimonious departure the second time around, but he will forever be remembered as another iconic No.7 at the ‘Theatre of Dreams’.