'Sir Alex Ferguson told me he was signing Cristiano Ronaldo - but I thought he meant R9'

Stephen Hendry was playing play with Sir Alex Ferguson erstwhile the legendary gaffer told him that helium was successful the process of signing Cristiano Ronaldo, but the snooker prima confused him for R9

Stephen Hendry was connected the golf people with Sir Alex Ferguson erstwhile helium learned of Cristiano Ronaldo's transportation to Manchester United.

However, the seven-time world champion snooker subordinate initially confused the Portuguese superstar, who turned 40 connected Wednesday, with the Brazilian shot icon Ronaldo Nazario. Hendry recounted the amusing misunderstanding portion chatting with ex-United keeper Ben Foster connected his Snooker Club podcast.

"I played play with him [Ferguson] once, and helium was connected the telephone each the time," Hendry said, adding: "It was astatine Gleneagles and helium was connected the phone, and determination was a feline who I knew asked maine to play - due to the fact that helium didn't play play but helium knew Alex Ferguson.

"He said, 'Can you play with him?'. I said, 'Yeah, yeah'. So he's connected the phone, this feline said, 'What you doing?'. He said, 'I'm doing a deal'. He says, 'We're signing Ronaldo'. And I'm like, 'Oh my God, Man United are signing Ronaldo' - Brazilian Ronaldo.

"I said, 'Wow, what a signing'. Anyway, it turned retired successful the extremity it was Cristiano Ronaldo. I was texting each my mates who are Man United fans saying, 'You'll ne'er conjecture what, Man United are signing Ronaldo'," reports the Manchester Evening News.

CR7 caught Ferguson's oculus during a pre-season affable successful 2003, arsenic Sporting CP defeated United 3-1. Just six days later, the past 17-year-old prodigy inked a woody with the Red Devils, and his legendary vocation took disconnected from there.

While Hendry mightiness person been thrilled astatine the thought of signing Nazario owed to his exceptional performances and extremity records with teams similar PSV, Barcelona, and Madrid, United arguably landed a much important shot elephantine successful Cristiano. The winger-turned-striker netted 118 goals successful 292 games for United from 2003 to 2009, clinching 3 Premier League titles, 2 League Cups, an FA Cup, and a Champions League earlier making an £80million power to Real Madrid.

He added 2 La Ligas and 4 much Champions Leagues to his trophy haul with Los Blancos earlier transferring to Juventus successful 2018. After spending 3 years successful Serie A, helium returned to United for 1 last stint successful 2021, adding different 27 goals successful 54 matches to his nine grounds earlier moving to Saudi Pro League team Al-Nassr successful 2023.

Despite celebrating his 40th day connected Wednesday, Ronaldo shows nary signs of slowing down. In the 2024/25 season, the five-time Ballon d'Or victor has scored 15 goals successful 17 matches - and adjacent though his declaration is owed to extremity aft this season, Ronaldo insists that helium wants to proceed enjoying the beauteous crippled for arsenic agelong arsenic possible.

The legendary R9, connected the different hand, was with Real Madrid for 5 years from 2002 to 2007 earlier transferring to AC Milan and aboriginal Corinthians. Despite being regarded arsenic 1 of the top strikers of each time, his vocation was marred by injuries - including 3 patellar ruptures and a tear, arsenic good arsenic a breached tibia and assorted genu issues.

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