Cristiano Ronaldo’s ex-team-mate Rio Ferdinand convinced him to snub rivals City and join Man Utd with 3am phonecall

CRISTIANO RONALDO was persuaded NOT to sign for Manchester City in a 3am phone conversation with Rio Ferdinand – a new book claims.

The 37-year-old Manchester United icon came close to joining the blue side of town last year before sealing an emotional return to Old Trafford.

The book, which details the five-time Ballon d̢۪Or winner̢۪s stellar career, is published next month.

And ‘Messi vs Ronaldo: One Rivalry, Two GOATs, and the Era That Remade the World’s Game’ claims Ronaldo was on the verge of a controversial switch.

That was until a 3am call with Ferdinand stopped a sensational move to the Etihad.

United legend Ferdinand posted a cryptic tweet in 2021 after City withdrew their interest in Ronaldo, with the forward joining United soon after.

It’s claimed in the new book that the former defender turned pundit was pivotal in preventing Ronaldo from joining City.

A middle of the night conversation prompted a change of heart from the Portuguese ace.

Ferdinand and Ronaldo were United team-mates for six years before CR7 moved on to Real Madrid.

The new book also claims Ronaldo himself branded his Old Trafford return a “disaster”;.

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Super-fit striker Ron was left shocked that few players shared the same level of commitment as him to remain in peak physical shape.

He was also unhappy under previous boss Ralf Rangnick, frustrated at the lack of investment at the training ground, and annoyed that the club had not involved since he left for Real Madrid in 2009.

And during his time at the Bernabeu, Ronaldo carried a piece of paper everywhere he went that detailed his career achievements.

Ronaldo’s former fitness coach at Sporting Lisbon Carlos Bruno saw the list, with Ron allegedly telling him: “Not bad, eh?”;

The United forward has won five Champions League trophies in his career, as well as countless league titles and domestic gongs.

Messi vs Ronaldo: One Rivalry, Two GOATs, and the Era That Remade the World̢۪s Game, is out on November 10 and published by Mariner Books.