Former Manchester United defender Patrice Evra has claimed that Sir Alex Ferguson told him that Cristiano Ronaldo had "99%" agreed to return to the club in 2013.
However, the return of the Portuguese attacker never materialised following Ferguson's decision to retire at the end of a campaign in which he guided the Red Devils to a 20th league title.
Ronaldo, 30, has continually been linked with a switch back to Old Trafford following his £80m departure for Real Madrid in 2009.
But, according to Evra, who left United 12 months after Ferguson, Madrid's record goalscorer was prepared to embark on a second stint with the English club two years ago.
"[Ferguson] was looking younger and younger, amazing. He even told me '99%, Cristiano Ronaldo will come'," the now Juventus left-back told the Sunday Times.
"I was like 'wow, we are ready to bounce back and to even win the Champions League again. After that everyone knows what happened. You know when you are lost and you feel like it is crumbling? It was a big trauma. I felt lost."
Ronaldo found the net 118 times during his 292 appearances for United.
