Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United went from strength to strength even after the Premier League club failed to bring one legendary former player to Old Trafford.
That is according to Peter Kenyon, who served as chief executive at Manchester United during Sir Alex Ferguson’s legendary reign at the Red Devils.
Kenyon was a key figure behind the scenes at Old Trafford and played an instrumental role in engineering the move for several players at United.
One of the former United chief executive’s high-profile transfers was the arrival of Rio Ferdinand, who was signed from Leeds United in 2002 for a £30m fee.
Kenyon would leave United in 2003 and make a move to Premier League side Chelsea, with the boyhood Red Devils supporter assuming the same role.
His exit from Old Trafford paved the way for David Gill to become chief executive at United, with Ferguson enjoying a fruitful relationship with Kenyon’s successor.
Kenyon on Man Utd transfer and Ferguson
Sir Alex Ferguson bowed out of Old Trafford in 2013 after leading Manchester United to their last Premier League title at the end of the 2012-13 campaign.
The legendary former United manager was known for bringing the best in class to Old Trafford, including club legends Eric Cantona and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ferguson, who is widely regarded as one of the best managers of all time, was keen to bring Brazil legend Ronaldinho to Old Trafford.
The BBC reported in 2003 that Peter Kenyon was in France at the time amid reports that United had agreed a deal to sign Ronaldinho from Paris Saint-Germain.
However, a deal for the legendary 44-year-old Brazilian superstar failed to materialise and Ronaldinho instead signed for Barcelona in 2003.
Speaking to Rio Ferdinand on the United legend’s YouTube channel, Kenyon insisted that the Red Devils and Ferguson “did better without” the signing of Ronaldinho.
“It was obviously on the cards,” he said.
“We spent quite a lot of time with him. I think, on reflection, we did better without him.
“Because coming back to culture, what Manchester United was, it was a special team. It was a special environment. People went out but they didn’t party every night, come to training late.
“United was bigger than any player in the world at that stage. We had conversations with Alex and I, United was so special. The best player in the world couldn’t just necessarily walk onto Old Trafford and play.
“I think that’s part of the problem today. You can pay the most money, the best wages, it doesn’t mean they are the best player for you.”
Ferguson on missing out on Ronaldinho
Ferguson sold David Beckham to Real Madrid in 2003 after their relationship splintered, with the failure to sign Ronaldinho dealing another blow to him.
But Ronaldinho’s departure to Barcelona instead led to Ferguson signing Cristiano Ronaldo after watching him in action in a pre-season friendly against United.
Ferguson previously admitted that he was “always” hunting for talent and Ronaldinho fit the build for a “talismanic” player that he wanted.
“The attempt to buy Ronaldinho reflected the fact that United have always sported talismanic players,” he told GQ magazine.
“I was always hunting for that talent. My line of reasoning was, ‘We’re getting £25 million for Beckham, and we’re getting Ronaldinho for £19 million.
“For God’s sake, wake up. It was a steal.”
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
