Man United almost signed Ronaldo and Bale in the same summer, according Evra

Did this influence Ferguson's decision to retire?

Speaking on the Obi One podcast, Patrice Evra revealed details of a conversation he had with Sir Alex Ferguson just weeks before he retired.

Reflecting on the day the legendary manager retired Evra said: “I didn’t cry, the reason why, I was in shock.

“Just two weeks before he brought me to his office and said ‘Patrice, look at those people, they think I’m going to retire, I’m going to be here another ten years. We need to win more Champions Leagues’.”

The 43-year-old went on to outline the big plans Ferguson had, but the club's owners rejected.

He said Ferguson, who managed United for 27 years, told him that ‘Ronaldo had agreed 99 per cent to come back and Gareth Bale’.

Evra said: “He needed 200 million and the club refused to give him those 200 million and now they spent a billion.”

Evra recalled how he left the office excited thinking ‘Cristiano is back, Gareth Bale… We’re back in business after winning the title’.