Former Manchester United No2 Carlos Queiroz has confirmed Sir Alex Ferguson agreed to sell Cristiano Ronaldo a year before he made his move to Real Madrid. Ronaldo, who faces Liverpool in the Champions League at Anfield tonight, eventually completed his move to Madrid in June 2009.
But in an interview in his native Portugal, Queiroz said: "There are a lot of things from my private life that Cristiano knows and things from his life that I know, and we never tell.
"Look, for example, the decision to open Manchester United's doors for him to go to Real Madrid was taken in my house, amid my family. When doubts arose, I managed to bring Alex Ferguson and Cristiano together at my house. With the three of us sat down, it was decided that Cristiano would stay another year at United and leave the following year for Real."
Did Ferguson try to stop Ronaldo leaving? Queiroz said: "It wasn't about not wanting him to leave. Every coach has to defend his own interests."
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