Rio Ferdinand made begging phone calls to Cristiano Ronaldo to get him to rejoin Man Utd

Posted Saturday, January 11, 2014 by Dailystar.co.uk

RIO FERDINAND bombarded Cristiano Ronaldo with phone calls last summer to try and lure him back to Manchester United.

Rio Ferdinand wanted Cristiano Ronaldo back at Old Trafford

Starsport exclusively revealed in August how Manchester United were in advanced talks with Real Madrid over a possible move.

The two clubs spent two weeks negotiating an £80m package but the move fell through.

And during that time Ferdinand was on the phone to his former team-mate before he signed a new huge contract with Real.

Rio Ferdinand made begging phone calls to Cristiano Ronaldo to get him to rejoin Man Utd
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his Champions League goal against Manchester United last season

Asked if he had contacted Ronaldo, Ferdinand told The Sun: “What do you think? He was one of the most dialled people on my phone at the time!

“But 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.

“As footballers you don’t really let on too much to each other. It’s like a chess game."

"In those situations you have got your one and two first-choice moves or scenarios that you want to happen.

"So to let people know is sort of letting the cat out of the bag. You play your cards close to your chest.

“But 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 personal view, but no-one will ever know now.”