Google News Cristiano Ronaldo: “Honestly, moving to Manchester City was close"
by | VIEW 220
Cristiano Ronaldo revealed a lot in his conversation with Piers Morgan, and one of the topics was Manchester City. The Portuguese was close to leaving for the Manchester United rival, but... “Honestly, it [moving to City] was close,” Ronaldo told Piers Morgan, as quoted by eurosport.com
“They spoke a lot and [Manchester boss Pep] Guardiola said two weeks ago that they tried hard to have me..
But, as you know, my history is in Manchester United.
Your heart, you're feeling the way you did before, and it made the difference. And of course, as well, Sir Alex Ferguson. It was a conscious decision because the heart speaks loud in that moment.
I think it [speaking with Ferguson] was the key.
I wouldn't say that Manchester City wasn't close. But I think, I did [make] a conscious decision. I don't regret at some point.
And as you mentioned before, Sir Alex Ferguson was the key. I spoke with him… He said to me that, 'It's impossible for you to come to Manchester City'
And I said 'OK, Boss'
So I took the decisions and I repeat: I was with conscience that it was a good decision."
Cristiano Ronaldo on the club
Ronaldo was disappointed when he arrived at Old Trafford. He expected things to be much better, but everything looked like 12 years ago when he left the club.
"When I signed for Manchester United...I thought everything would be different, you know, the technology, the infrastructures and everything. But I was surprised, in a bad way, let's say in that way, because I saw everything was the same.
They stopped on a clock, in my opinion, which is something that surprised me.
At United, the progress was zero, in my opinion.
To compare with Real Madrid and even Juventus, they follow the rest of the world. So the technology, especially in terms of training, nutrition and conditions of eating properly and recovering better than before - surprised me.
Manchester right now, to compare with that club, I think it's behind in my opinion, which is something that surprised me.
A club with this dimension should be the top of the tree in my opinion and they are not, unfortunately. They are not in that level. But I hope the next years they can reach to be in a top level. I don't know what's going on but since Sir Alex Ferguson left I saw no evolution in the club, the progress was zero." Ronaldo wants to be an example to young people.
"I'm not the kind of guy who likes to give advice as I prefer to be an example. Because I'm an example," he said.
"I'm there every morning and do the same stuff. I'm probably the first one to arrive and the last one to go out. I think the details speak for itself. This is why I say, I like to lead by example."