The Portuguese opened an exit door to Old Trafford on the back of an obvious World Cup, but the Red Devils ended up retaining his services
Cristiano Ronaldo decided to move to Valencia in 2006, says former club sporting director Amedeo Carboni, but there has never been a transition from Manchester United.
The Portuguese superstar opened the exit door to Old Trafford that summer after participating in a World Cup campaign in Germany.
Ronaldo sparked controversy during that tournament after apparently contributing to Wayne Rooney’s dismissal in a quarter-final clash with England.
His notorious wink didn’t go well with rival supporters or some of his club colleagues at Old Trafford, which included Rooney.
Ronaldo saw nothing wrong with the way he acted and felt he should have received more support from the Red Devils when he returned to England as a hateful figure.
He said in July 2006: “I think I should get out of Manchester.
“The circumstances are not right to continue playing in Manchester. In two or three days I will decide where to go.
“I always said I wanted to play in Spain. Nobody defended me in Manchester, even though I didn’t hurt anyone. “
With an invitation extended to those of La Liga, Valencia has made its move.
“I arrived at the right time, Valencia was the city that benefited most from this economic, social and sporting” boom “, said Carboni The Postponement the role he played in trying to attract the five-time winner of the Ballon d’Or in Mestalla.
“We had found the financial resources to get it, we had made agreements with Nike and Coca Cola, the player’s sponsors.
“At that time Ronaldo was already earning 10 million net per year, a lot for a club like Valencia.
“So we reached the stage where Cristiano had argued with Manchester United. In 2006-07 Valencia was experiencing a “boom” and I had his “yes” to sign it “.
Having received the go-ahead, Carboni worked to implement the relevant documents.
He added that he had “signed the contracts [Jorge] Mendes, there was nothing missing between Ronaldo, his agent and myself. The deal, however, did not materialize. “
Ronaldo ended up spending three more years at United, taking his game to new heights along the way and landing the first of his Ballon d’Or crowns.
He eventually moved to Spain in 2009, but it was Real Madrid that got his signature and offered him the opportunity to spend nine record years in Santiago Bernabeu.
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