Ronaldo was instrumental in getting Rafael and Fabio to sign for Man United despite hating Manchester’s weather.
Former Manchester United defender Rafael da Silva has revealed that Cristiano Ronaldo persuaded him and his twin, Fabio, to join the Red Devils.
The duo signed for United from Fluminense in 2008 and went on to play at Old Trafford for several years before leaving in 2015.
And the Brazilian has revealed that Ronaldo played a major role in convincing the pair to sign for United.
“He called my phone, and I’ll never forget that,” Rafael told the UTD Podcast.
“My phone had all the zeros [on the screen, to indicate an international call] and I was saying ‘Who is this? I’ve never received a call like this.’
“I answered, and I knew him because I’d trained with him before.
“He just said: ‘Ah, [Portuguese greeting]!’ I ran to my bus saying: ‘It’s Ronaldo, it’s Ronaldo! He’s calling us to speak!’
“He just said: ‘It’s raining here, it’s raining here in Manchester, like you know.’ He said: ‘I call to say to you guys: sign for Manchester United. I know you are going to like it’ et cetera.
“I could not believe [it]. It was amazing.”
Ronaldo tried to recruit Rafael and Fabio at a time when his own future in Manchester was up in the air as he was rather unhappy with the British weather.
“I like to play for Manchester – better than [I like] the weather,” he told Sky Sports News at the time.
“The weather is very difficult for me because you see snow, every time, and rain. It’s difficult compared to Portugal, where you see sun every day, which is why it’s difficult for me.
“But the club is massive and I’m very happy for staying here.”
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