Manchester United legend Patrice Evra claims Sir Alex Ferguson came within a whisker of bringing Cristiano Ronaldo back to Old Trafford - along with Gareth Bale.
Having already won 38 trophies during 26 astonishing years at Old Trafford, Evra claims Ferguson identified the pair as crucial to his ambitions of winning a third Champions League title, shortly before his retirement in 2013.
Ferguson's decision to call time on his career came as a big surprise to the footballing world, particularly to Evra, who insists he was told that the fiery Scot would be going nowhere, and instead had grand plans to capture another European crown.
Bale, who at this point was still at Tottenham, was clearly a big part of that blueprint, along with his future Real team-mate who, according to Evra, had even promised a return.
"You know, you talk about the hardest moments [in my United career], I would say maybe this [Ferguson's retirement] is the one," Evra told United’s UTD podcast.
"Two weeks before that, I remember there was a lot of media saying Ferguson will maybe retire next year, and he said, ‘Patrice, I will never retire. I will be here another 10 years’.
"He then said: ‘My target is I’m 99 per cent sure we will have Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale. I just need these two players to win the Champions League again.
"And to be fair, when I speak with Cristiano, I ask him and he said yes to the boss, and was coming to join United. He told me this."
Ferguson was arguably right to identify the pair, who after Bale's arrival in the Spanish capital, would go on to help Real to claim four Champions League titles.
Ronaldo has since left to link up with another Welshman in Aaron Ramsey at Juventus, while Bale's future remains shrouded in uncertainty.
Despite his agent repeatedly insisting the player is happy in Spain, Bale has long been linked with a return to English football, with United among several names to have been credited with an interest in securing his services in recent years.
