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09th Dec 2015

Ronaldinho was just 48 hours away from becoming a Manchester United player

What could have been

Darragh Murphy

Louis van Gaal would probably have broken him but Ronaldinho definitely would have flourished under Sir Alex Ferguson.

The Brazilian legend is one of the best to play the game, possibly the most entertaining footballer of all time and would have gone down in the annals of Manchester United greats.

Rumours have circulated for years that Ronaldinho almost signed for United, as well as Blackburn Rovers, in 2003 when he was stealing the show for PSG.

In an interview with FourFourTwo, the magician has cleared up the rumours and it’s true… he really did almost sign for United.

“It almost happened with United,” Ronaldinho said. “It was a matter of 48 hours, but Sandro Rosell had told me way before I got the offer: “If I become Barça president, will you come?” I said yes.

“It was only a matter of details with United when Rosell called to say he was going to win the elections there. And I had promised to him that I’d play for Barça… It was a quick negotiation. I told the English I had chosen Barça. It was the right choice.

Atletico Madrid v Barcelona - La Liga

“Brazilians have always loved Barça. We have a history there. Off the pitch it is like nowhere else in Europe, so we are always happy playing there. I miss Barcelona a lot. I had five fantastic seasons there, at a club that likes strikers and talented players.

“About Blackburn: we talked to them, but I wanted to come back home to Brazil.”