‘I was 48 hours from joining Man Utd – but one phone call changed everything’

‘I was 48 hours from joining Man Utd – but one phone call changed everything’Manchester United have made some notable signings over the years but some big ones have got away from them as wellCommentsSportTom Victor Senior Sports Journalist07:00, 16 Apr 2026View 2 ImagesRonaldinho thrived at Barcelona(Image: JOSE JORDAN, AFP via Getty Images)The new Ronaldinho documentary promises to shine new light on the Brazilian's career while also bringing his brilliance to younger audiences who weren't around to witness him at his peak. The icon's best years could have panned out differently and Manchester United supporters know that all too well, with many wondering what might have happened had a planned Old Trafford move not fallen through.‌It was at Barcelona where Ronaldinho propelled himself to global superstardom. Yet, he came remarkably close to joining United instead - only for the Catalan club to snap him up from Paris Saint-Germain at the eleventh hour.‌Sir Alex Ferguson was seeking reinforcements after permitting David Beckham to depart for Real Madrid. Despite the best efforts of the legendary manager, though, he had no chance once Ronaldinho received a phonecall just days before the deal was due to go through.‌"I remember two or three [signings] that were possibly coming," Scholes told the BBC's Savage Social podcast in 2020. "I think the one that stands out is Ronaldinho.""He was away on pre-season and we were as close as announcing him and giving him a number but I think he ended up changing his mind at the last minute and signing for Barcelona. It's strange really because we played Barcelona on that pre-season tour."FOLLOW OUR MAN UTD FB PAGE! Latest United news and more on our dedicated Facebook page‌READ MORE: Man Utd eye up TWO Bournemouth stars for transfer amid Andoni Iraola interestREAD MORE: Man Utd squad get their way after claiming major decision was 'madness'Ronaldinho had already built a...