“Phone Call Diverts Star from Joining Manchester United at Last Minute”

A newly released documentary on Ronaldinho has reignited interest in a famous transfer that never happened. A last-minute phone call changed his decision to join Manchester United.

How the deal unraveled

Sir Alex Ferguson was seeking replacements after David Beckham left for Real Madrid. Manchester United were reportedly close to announcing Ronaldinho during pre-season.

Paul Scholes later recalled on the BBC’s Savage Social podcast in 2020 that the club had even allocated a squad number. Days before the move completed, Ronaldinho reversed course and signed for Barcelona.

What Ronaldinho says

In a 2014 interview with FourFourTwo, Ronaldinho explained the sudden change. Sandro Rosell had asked him if he would join Barcelona if Rosell became club president.

Ronaldinho said he had promised Rosell his commitment. He described the switch as a rapid negotiation that concluded within 48 hours.

Career context and aftermath

Before the transfer saga, Ronaldinho had starred for Gremio and Paris Saint-Germain. He was also a key figure in Brazil’s 2002 World Cup triumph.

At Barcelona he won the Ballon d’Or in 2005. He also helped Barca win the 2006 Champions League final against Arsenal.

United’s response

Manchester United moved quickly after missing out. The club signed Kleberson and, more significantly, a young Cristiano Ronaldo instead.

Paul Scholes later suggested Ronaldinho would have had a transformative influence. He compared the potential impact to that of Eric Cantona.

Legacy and renewed interest

The documentary aims to introduce Ronaldinho’s brilliance to younger viewers. It also highlights how a decisive phone call altered modern football history.

Filmogaz.com will continue to follow developments around the film and reactions from former teammates and rivals.