'Ronaldinho was just 48 hours away from joining Manchester United'

Ronaldinho was very close to joining Manchester United in the summer of 2003, but a last-minute decision led him to Barcelona, creating one of the most memorable turning points in transfer history.

In 2003, Ronaldinho was very close to joining Manchester United before unexpectedly switching direction to Barcelona. This story has been revisited with the release of a new documentary about him, capturing the attention of a younger generation of fans who never witnessed the peak years of the Brazilian superstar.

At that time, Manchester United was seeking a replacement after David Beckham's move to Real Madrid. Manager Sir Alex Ferguson personally participated in negotiations with Ronaldinho, as he was preparing to leave Paris Saint-Germain. The deal seemed nearly complete, but a sudden twist changed everything at the last moment.

According to manchestereveningnews, legend Paul Scholes shared: “I remember there were two or three deals that were almost finalized. The most notable one was Ronaldinho. He was on a preseason tour at that time, and we were almost ready to announce it, even preparing to assign his shirt number. But then, at the last minute, he changed his mind and signed with Barcelona. It was strange because we even faced Barcelona during that tour.”

Ronaldinho was already a prominent name at that time after shining at Grêmio and playing a key role in Brazil's FIFA World Cup 2002 victory. Manchester United fully believed he could adapt to the Premier League and make a difference, and the whole team couldn't hide their excitement about the prospect of partnering with the South American star.

Scholes further recounted: “We were all very excited – Ronaldinho, an incredible player! He would bring something special, similar to what Eric Cantona had done. But then, three days later, we had to face him, and everyone wanted to ‘kick’ him because he didn’t sign with us.” The disappointment was evident, even though the dressing room at that time still boasted many big stars.

Ronaldinho himself later confirmed this fateful turning point. In 2014, he revealed: “The deal with United was almost done, with only details remaining within 48 hours. But Sandro Rosell had asked me earlier: ‘If I become president of Barcelona, would you come?’ I agreed. When he called to say he was about to win the election, I kept my promise and chose Barcelona.”

At Camp Nou, Ronaldinho quickly rose to superstar status, winning the 2005 Ballon d'Or and helping Barcelona win the UEFA Champions League. As for Manchester United, they didn't suffer too long, using the funds to sign Kleberson and especially Cristiano Ronaldo – a name who later became an icon at Old Trafford.