Cristiano Ronaldo and Alex Ferguson talked about their special relationship, which goes far beyond their mutual sporting successes, and remembered a formative moment. Both reported in an issue of the format Inside view of Manchester United on a scene in which Ronaldo asked Ferguson for a day off to visit his father in the hospital.
“He probably doesn’t remember it, and I’m not supposed to say it, but I’ll say it because it’s a beautiful story. I remember one day my father was in the hospital and I was so emotional, like that I spoke to him and he said, ‘Cristiano, it doesn’t matter, go there for two or three days’ “, Ronaldo looked back.
In terms of sport, it was not an easy decision for Ferguson. “We had difficult games and I was a key player at that moment. He said: ‘It will be difficult because we have these difficult games, but I understand your situation and I will let you go to your father,'” said the Portuguese.
Ronaldo’s father died of years of alcohol abuse in 2005. At the time, Ronaldo was just 20 years old and had played for Manchester United for two years. Ferguson made it clear that football sometimes takes a back seat in a football club. “The club played no role, and some things are more important than the club. The family is definitely one of them. Without a doubt. You should never put a club above your family,” said the Scot.
Ferguson remembered ex-players
In doing so, he remembered a situation when he was still a young coach himself. This had a lasting impact on him. “I was 33 years old and a young guy came into my office. It was a Tuesday and he said, ‘Boss, can I have Friday off?’ I asked, ‘Why do you want to be off on Friday?’ He said, ‘My mother died,’ “he said.
This news hit him hard at that moment. “You’re done. What can you do? I said, ‘Oh, of course, my son.’ From then on, if a player came up to me and said, ‘I want to have tomorrow off,’ then I said, ‘Yes, can I help you?’ “He explained.
It was a similar situation with Ronaldo, although he knew that his father was not doing too well. “With Cristiano, I knew his father was sick and in the hospital. It was important for him to be with him,” said Ferguson looking back. Ronaldo made it clear that he not only appreciates Ferguson for that: “He always did what he said to me.”
