Former Manchester United chief executive David Gill has told of his admiration for one of the club’s biggest ever stars.
Cristiano Ronaldo signed for the club in 2003, two months before David Gill was promoted to chief executive following Peter Kenyon’s departure.
Gill witnessed first hand what a fantastic impact he had on the club, with Ronaldo winning one FA Cup, two League Cups, three Premier League titles and one Champions League, as well as the Ballon d’Or.
The peak was a stunning 42 goal season in 2007/08, and in an interview with Five, Gill has reflected on Ronaldo’s time at the club and how he fought to keep him as long as possible.
Cristiano Ronaldo was phenomenal
David Gill has explained that Manchester United always feared Cristiano Ronaldo would one day look to move to Real Madrid, but he was glad to delay it as long as possible.
Gill praised the way he was managed by his high profile agent Jorge Mendes, who Manchester United built up a trust with, and he was thrilled with what the forward went on to achieved.
He explained: “He was so motivated to be one of the best and he was very well managed. For us to have him was brilliant.
“Jorge [Mendes] was a very good agent for him, managed him correctly. We always felt that he would move to Madrid at some stage but we tried to push that as long as possible. His whole attitude and what he did for the club was phenomenal.”
Manchester United pushed exit back in 2008
After the 2008 season, Cristiano Ronaldo was the most in-demand player in world football, and Gill said he was unhappy to learn of speculation over his future right after the Champions League final in Moscow that year.
But he said it was an even bigger reality check when Manchester United learned that Ronaldo might actually be interested in joining up with Real Madrid so soon.
Gill said: “It was a bit of a shock when he was indicating he might like to go that summer [in 2008]. We said ‘we can’t have that’.”
He explained how United managed to negotiate with Ronaldo that he would have the option to leave the following summer.
“So in a nutshell we agreed that he would sign a new contract with us but there would be an exit clause the following year. [They] had to hit the number, £80 million up front in the bank account. Which was a record at the time.
“They had a period after the next season to exercise that option and I remember in Rome we unfortunately lost to Barcelona, and speaking to Jorge [Mendes] and Ronaldo’s legal advisors, it was made clear they were going to exercise it [the clause].”
Was Cristiano Ronaldo sale too low for Manchester United
Cristiano Ronaldo went onto break incredible goalscoring records at Real Madrid, including a season where he scored 61 goals in 54 games, winning four Champions League trophies for the club and four more Ballon d’Or awards.
Gill was asked if Manchester United’s world record £80 million deal, up front, was actually too cheap considering what Ronaldo went on to achieve. He admitted this was probably right.
He responded: “Hindsight’s very good but at the time it was very good, but you are exactly right I agree.”
Reflecting further, the former chief executive said Manchester United had to appease Ronaldo in some way in 2008 or risk being left with an unhappy player.
He explained: “He’s a brilliant player, we didn’t want to lose him, but I think we had to understand if we didn’t do something like that he would have been upset and it would be difficult and no-one could argue with what he did on the pitch in his last season.”