Juan Mata dropped the ultimate compliment on a former Manchester United target that Sir Alex Ferguson desperately wanted at Old Trafford during his reign.
The 38-year-old Spaniard was one of the major high-profile signings that were made in the season after Sir Alex Ferguson bowed out of the Premier League club.
Manchester United signed former Chelsea star Juan Mata during the 2014 January window amid David Moyes’ turbulent Premier League season at Old Trafford.
Mata lifted a Europa League trophy, an FA Cup and a League Cup with Man Utd before the 2010 World Cup winner left the Premier League club in 2022.
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Juan Mata praises Brazil legend Ronaldinho, who was famously linked with Man Utd during Sir Alex Ferguson’s time
Juan Mata, who is now at A-League Men side Melbourne Victory, crossed paths with former Barcelona superstar Ronaldinho ahead of his move to Chelsea in 2011.
The former Spain international was at Valencia and was only 19 years old when he played against Ronaldinho in a 3-0 La Liga defeat to Barcelona in 2007.
Ronaldinho, who is regarded as one of the best players of all time, left a long-lasting impression on Mata, so much so that he named him the most skilful player he faced.
Mata made the admission about the 46-year-old Brazilian superstar, who was thought of highly by Sir Alex Ferguson, in an interview clip with ITV Sport.
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Sir Alex Ferguson thinks that Ronaldinho would not have signed for him after Man Utd’s failed transfer
Barcelona had snapped up Ronaldinho from French side Paris Saint-Germain in 2003, but Man Utd had been heavily linked with the former Brazil international.
Ferguson’s failure to land Ronaldinho during his legendary reign at Man Utd famously led to him signing Cristiano Ronaldo from Sporting CP instead.
“I do think what might have been when I look at Ronaldinho,” he said, as per Sky Sports.
“We thought the agreement with him was done until some events changed the course of history. But the good thing about Manchester United is that the club does not stop just because one player says ‘no,’ or we fail to get him.
“We thought we had Paul Gascoigne, but he changed his mind and went to Tottenham, so we signed Paul Ince and he was fantastic for us.
“Likewise, we tried to get David Hurst and Alan Shearer and ended up with Eric Cantona. What can I say about that?
“Something always turns up. Football is amazing like that. We did not get Ronaldinho, but out of that came Cristiano Ronaldo.”
Ronaldinho, who lifted France Football’s prized Ballon d’Or award in 2005, lifted the World Cup and Copa America with Brazil and enjoyed a prolific club career as well.
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