You might have heard whispers about Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale nearly joining Manchester United in 2013. Well, a former EA Sports employee has spilled the beans. He shared that both Ronaldo and Bale were almost signed by Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson. The idea was for Ronaldo to return to Old Trafford, and Bale to join him, creating a powerful duo on the wings.

Patrice Evra once said that Ferguson believed these transfers would help United win the Champions League again. He even told Evra that both players were 99% agreed to join the Red Devils. But there was a problem: money. The combined transfer fee was around $262 million, which Manchester United’s management wasn’t willing to pay.

Ferguson had big plans and wanted to stay for another decade. However, the financial barrier might have played a role in his sudden retirement at the end of that year. Since then, Manchester United hasn’t been the same. The club has struggled to regain its former success under different managers like David Moyes, Jose Mourinho, and Luis Van Gaal.

Looking back, the missed opportunity hurts. Both Ronaldo and Bale went on to have amazing careers at Real Madrid. Ronaldo won multiple Champions League titles, and Bale also had a successful run before moving to LAFC and retiring. Many fans wonder what could have been if they had joined Manchester United.

The club’s dominance in English football hasn’t been the same since Ferguson left. Not winning a Premier League title since 2013 makes fans think about what might have been with Ronaldo and Bale. The current manager, Erik ten Hag, faces lots of criticism as the team tries to make a comeback. The story of the near miss still haunts the club and its supporters.

The Near Miss: When Ronaldo and Bale Almost Joined United

Actions