Ronaldinho sensationally told Manchester United stars he was moving to Old Trafford before making a last-minute Barcelona U-turn, according to ex-international team-mate Kleberson.
Following the 2002 World Cup, where Brazil once again proved themselves the cream of the crop by claiming a fifth title, star man Ronaldinho was the name on everyone’s lips and the PSG midfielder was eyed for a big-money move to the Premier League or La Liga.
The Parisian giants managed to hold onto their prized asset for a further 12 months, but in the summer of 2003 Ronaldinho’s wish looked to be granted when Man Utd and Ronaldinho agreed on personal terms. However, settling on a transfer fee with PSG proved too difficult a task.
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Including Fabien Barthez as part of their original offer, which was instantly rejected, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson then visited the French capital in person to try and get the deal over the line. Yet the two parties failed to come to an arrangement and just three days later, Ronaldinho instead signed for Barcelona.
One Brazilian midfielder who did make the switch to Old Trafford was Kleberson. The dinky dynamo racked up 30 appearances across two campaigns after heading to the northwest of England in 2003 – though he too was convinced he’d be joined at Man Utd by his international colleague.
“Before I signed for Manchester United, the club apparently wanted Ronaldinho as well,” revealed Kleberson, speaking exclusively to Ladbrokes: Fanzone. “We played a friendly against France and Man United representatives were there watching the game.
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(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
(Image: PA)
“When I spoke with them afterwards, they told me they were watching myself and Ronaldinho. He was close to joining them with me. I spoke to him about it on a couple of occasions.
“When the guys from United came to watch us in that friendly, we spoke afterwards, really quickly. He told me ‘let’s go together!’ At that time, we didn’t have any technology like WhatsApp so I couldn’t keep in touch with him, but I went back to Brazil and he went to Paris.
“In my mind, I was 100% convinced that we were both signing for Man United. I started to talk with my club in Brazil and eventually the move was finalised. Even in that moment, I thought Ronaldinho was coming. One month later, he joined Barcelona.
(Image: Getty Images)
(Image: Getty Images)
“Next time I saw him, I said to him ‘hey, bro… are you kidding me?! You sent me to England where it’s raining every day, and you’re playing for Barcelona now?!’
“‘I put you in a good team!’ he said. And he did, for sure. But I really thought he was coming with me!”
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