Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has revealed a hilarious story about how Cristiano Ronaldo woke him up at 1am, furiously sending his wife, ex-TOWIE star Kate Ferdinand, into a frenzy.
The reason? A Manchester United-related discussion that left Kate furious but resulted in one of the most talked-about transfers of recent years.
The 1am call between Ronaldo and Ferdinand that changed everything
In the summer of 2021, Ronaldo was at a crossroads in his career and had to decide whether to leave Juventus. Rumors were swirling about a shocking move to Manchester City, and United fans were on edge. But before Ronaldo made a decision, he reached out to a former teammate.
Ferdinand, speaking on Ronaldo’s YouTube channel, recalled the moment vividly:
“We spoke on the phone when you were about to sign for Manchester United. It was 1am and my wife wanted to kill me! You called me and said, ‘Rio, what’s going on? Can we sort this out?’ And you ended up signing for United.”
The return to Old Trafford was meteoric, and fans were thrilled. However, Ronaldo left the club less than 18 months later after a public row with manager Erik ten Hag.
Ronaldo’s love for United remains
Despite his bitter departure, Ronaldo still has a soft spot for Manchester United. He responded to the Rio story by saying: “For me, it’s over. But I wish Manchester the best. I love this club.”
Although his second spell at the club ended on a sour note, Ronaldo’s legacy as one of United’s greatest number sevens is undeniable. After all, it’s not every day that you get woken up at 1am by a five-time Ballon d’Or winner!
