Former Manchester United defender Patrice Evra has disclosed that Cristiano Ronaldo seriously considered a move to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2018, which could have seen him team up with Lionel Messi years later. Ronaldo ultimately chose Juventus instead. Evra shared these insights in a recent interview.
The summer of 2018 marked a pivotal moment in Cristiano Ronaldo's career following his Champions League triumph with Real Madrid in Kyiv. As speculation swirled about his next destination, offers came from clubs including Chelsea, Juventus, and Paris Saint-Germain. Patrice Evra, who played alongside Ronaldo at Manchester United, revealed that the Portuguese star was genuinely interested in the PSG project.
In an interview with RMC Sport, Evra stated, “He was interested in coming to Paris, believe me, he would have adapted.” He emphasized Ronaldo's options at the time, noting, “That was before he signed for Juventus. He had Chelsea, Juventus, PSG… he said he would never go to Arsenal.” Evra further added, “PSG was interested in the project, he would have adapted and worked hard,” highlighting Ronaldo's potential fit in the ambitious French setup.
PSG, already a force in European soccer after signing Neymar the previous year, aimed to dominate the continent. A Ronaldo arrival would have bolstered their bid for Champions League glory. However, Ronaldo opted for Juventus, where he thrived over three seasons, scoring 101 goals in 134 matches and securing domestic titles, though the European crown eluded him.
The what-if scenario gained added intrigue when Lionel Messi joined PSG in 2021 after leaving Barcelona. Had Ronaldo made the move in 2018, the two rivals would have shared a dressing room, potentially rewriting soccer history in competitive matches rather than exhibitions.
