Brazilian midfielder Kleberson says legendary compatriot Ronaldinho persuaded him to make the move to Manchester United in 2003, only to then back out of making the move to Old Trafford himself.
Kleberson joined United from Atletico Paranaense for a fee in the region of £6million in 2003, just a year on from helping his side to victory at the World Cup.
In the end though, the move turned into something of a nightmare for Kleberson as he was blighted by injury and struggled to adapt to the pace of the English game.
Speaking to ‘ESPN’, Kleberson has now revealed that he was sold on the move by none other than the great Ronaldinho, who at that point appeared destined for Old Trafford himself.
“Ronaldinho told me he was going to Manchester,” Kleberson explained. “He kept saying to me, ‘Come to Manchester!’
“I wanted to go, but I was reluctant because I didn’t speak English and United didn’t have any Portuguese speakers. Ronaldinho persuaded me and I went to Manchester. But he didn’t.”
Ronaldinho came within hours of moving to Manchester that very summer, only to be seduced by a late offer from Barcelona, leaving Sir Alex Ferguson apoplectic.