Manchester United should learn from Cristiano Ronaldo mistake amid Karim Benzema links
“Don’t worry, I’m trying to get him,” Sir Alex Ferguson assured a sweat-soaked Rio Ferdinand as he trudged off the Stade Gerland pitch on a brisk February evening in 2008.
Carlos Tevez had just scored an 87th-minute equaliser in the Champions League Last-16 first leg clash with Lyon, but the Manchester United manager was more bothered about the opposition’s goal scorer who had given his defender the run-around.
He powered down the tunnel to speak transfer talk with the French striker but club officials swiftly escorted the 21-year-old to the confines of the home dressing room. Few players rejected an approach from Sir Alex but Karim Benzema was one of them.
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Post-retirement, the great man said his biggest career regret was not being able to sign Paul Gascoigne but Ferdinand reckons Benzema’s evasion will be up there. United went on to beat Lyon 1-0 in the second leg thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo’s strike.
The Portugal superstar ultimately scored in the final on that unforgettable night in Moscow when United clasped hands on the trophy. A year later, he was presented in front of a packed Bernabeu stadium following his £80m switch as he joined Benzema as a new recruit of 2009 at Real Madrid.
“There were quite a few clubs that contacted me like Manchester (United), Inter Milan and Barcelona, but I decided to come here,” Benzema said upon his own arrival. “Real Madrid are an excellent club. I've dreamt about playing here since I was 15 years old.”
For much of the time, Benzema played in Ronaldo’s shadow until his exit to Juventus in 2019. Ronaldo eventually wound up back at an Old Trafford that had
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