Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon claims the club agreed a deal with Cristiano Ronaldo to sign for them a year before his Man Utd exit.
The Portuguese superstar swapped life at Old Trafford for pastures new in Madrid in a then-world record £80million deal in 2009.
United were reluctant to sell their star man, but were resigned to losing the player who had helped win them a prestigious domestic and European double a year earlier.
Yet according to Calderon, Ronaldo already knew he was on his way to Madrid before embarking on his final season with United, and even claims Sir Alex Ferguson knew too.
Speaking to the Athletic, Calderon said: "He extended his contract with United [in 2008] but he did it with the commitment to come to Real Madrid the year after – he said, ‘I am going.'"
Calderon then alleges that Madrid even put in a €30million (approx £24m) stipulation that if either side broke the agreement, they would be financially liable.
He added: "This meant that if we didn’t comply with the contract, we would have to pay Cristiano €30 million and vice-versa – he would have to pay us the same if he reneged."
Ronaldo had finished as top scorer as United successfully defended their Premier League title, as well as win the Champions League.
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