In a stunning revelation, former Manchester United star Patrice Evra has disclosed that Sir Alex Ferguson, the legendary manager, had been plotting a monumental transfer plan to bring Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale to the club in 2013. However, Ferguson's ambitions were thwarted when the club refused to finance the mammoth £200 million deal, leading to his unexpected retirement at the end of that season.

During an appearance on The Obi One Podcast, hosted by ex-Chelsea player John Obi Mikel, Evra recounted a poignant moment with Ferguson just weeks before he announced his retirement. According to Evra, Ferguson expressed confidence that he was far from done with managing, stating, "Patrice, look at those people, they think I'm going to retire, I'm going to be here for another ten years, but we need to win more Champions Leagues."

Ferguson's plan hinged on reuniting with Ronaldo, who had indicated a 99% agreement to return to Old Trafford, and securing Bale from Tottenham Hotspur. Evra noted that Ferguson was adamant about needing the £200 million for both transfers, lamenting that the club declined to provide the funds, a situation that ultimately contributed to Ferguson stepping down.

The aftermath of Ferguson's departure saw Ronaldo remain at Real Madrid until 2018 before finally donning the Manchester United jersey again in 2021. Unfortunately, this second chapter was cut short after a controversial interview with Piers Morgan led to the termination of Ronaldo's contract; he is currently playing for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.

Gareth Bale, on the other hand, made a splash in the summer of 2013 by moving to Real Madrid, where he celebrated immense success over an eight-year tenure that included five Champions League trophies and three La Liga titles. He hung up his boots in 2023 after a stint with Los Angeles FC.

This tale of missed opportunities raises the question: How different might Manchester United's trajectory have been had these legendary players arrived together? Fans and analysts alike can only speculate about what could have been—a powerful reminder of the whims of football management and the excitement that unfulfilled ambitions can stir in the hearts of supporters.