Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has revealed a hilarious story about how Cristiano Ronaldo woke him up at 1 am, sparking fury from his wife, ex-TOWIE star Kate Ferdinand.
The reason? A Manchester United-related chat that left Kate fuming but resulted in one of the most talked-about transfers in recent years.
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The 1 am call between Ronaldo & Ferdinand that changed everything
In the summer of 2021, Ronaldo was at a crossroads in his career, deciding whether to leave Juventus. With rumors swirling about a shocking move to Manchester City, United fans were on edge. But before Ronaldo made any decisions, he reached out to an old teammate.
Ferdinand, speaking on Ronaldo’s YouTube channel, recalled the moment vividly:
"We spoke on the phone when you were going to sign for Man United. It was 1 o'clock in the morning, and my wife wanted to kill me! You rang me, 'Rio, what’s going on? Can we sort this out?' And you ended up signing for United."
What followed was a whirlwind return to Old Trafford that had fans buzzing. Ronaldo, however, left the club less than 18 months later after a public fallout with manager Erik ten Hag.
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Ronaldo’s love for United remains
Despite his bitter exit, Ronaldo still has a soft spot for Manchester United. He responded to Rio's story by saying, "For me, it's done. But I wish Manchester the best. I love that club."
Though his second stint at the club ended on a sour note, Ronaldo's legacy as one of United's greatest No. 7s is undeniable. After all, it’s not every day you get woken up at 1am by a five-time Ballon d'Or winner!