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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="footballco-bet-betsense">{"type":"footballco-bet-betsense","data":{}}</script><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_d6e1e5da-7d9a-43d5-97e1-f4350a3cd7e3"}}</script><ul><li>Portuguese returned to England in 2021</li><li>Sounded out former team-mate before move</li><li>Lasted less than 18 months before release</li></ul>

Rio Ferdinand reveals how Cristiano Ronaldo woke him up at 1am asking about Man Utd

<p>Back in the summer of 2021, five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo found himself mulling over his options at Serie A giants Juventus. The decision was taken, after three years in Italy, to find a new challenge – with talk of a <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/ronaldo-never-tarnish-history-man-city-barcelona-man-utd-fabio/ruw7xkwdd1p18c7721ns0mw8" target="_blank">stunning return to Manchester to join Pep Guardiola and Co at City</a> emerging.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>No deal was done there, with United refusing to let their neighbours acquire an Old Trafford legend. Ronaldo rejoined the Red Devils’ ranks, but was <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/ronaldo-on-purpose-man-utd-exit-strategy-stam-handled-better/blt9b32129c6b01c4a3" target="_blank">gone less than 18 months later following a falling out with Dutch coach Erik ten Hag</a> – with CR7 released as a free agent.</p>

THE GOSSIP

<p>Former United team-mate Ferdinand has been discussing a sensational retracing of steps to English football with Ronaldo, saying on the Portuguese’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAz6enaA9nE " target="_blank"><em>YouTube channel</em></a>: “We spoke on the phone when you were going to go and sign at Man 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.”</p>

WHAT FERDINAND SAID

<p>Ronaldo <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/cristiano-ronaldo-still-loves-man-utd-acrimonious-end-second-spell-old-trafford-out-of-his-control/blt6fe10392927dc58f" target="_blank">responded by saying</a>: “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.”</p>

DID YOU KNOW?

<p>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 second time around, but he will <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/nothing-like-david-beckham-how-scrawny-erratic-cristiano-ronaldo-frustrated-man-utd-turning-into-machine/blt9934a6faed648165" target="_blank">forever be remembered as another iconic No.7 at the ‘Theatre of Dreams’</a>.</p>

WHAT NEXT?

Rio Ferdinand reveals how Cristiano Ronaldo woke him up at 1am asking about Man Utd | Goal.com US

Rio Ferdinand has revealed that his ex-TOWIE star wife “wanted to kill me” after he took a 1am Manchester United-related call from Cristiano Ronaldo.