Manchester United great Paul Scholes explains why he wanted to give Ronaldinho a kicking

Paul Scholes says he and his Manchester United team-mates were gutted when the Reds missed out on signing Ronaldinho in 2003.

And the Old Trafford great has revealed they tried – and failed – to let him know their feelings by giving him a kicking.

The Brazilian great came close to joining United from Paris St Germain, even travelling to Manchester to visit the club.

But as David Beckham left Old Trafford that summer, Barcelona – tired of waiting for a response from the England superstar – nipped in and beat United to Ronaldinho instead.

Scholes was disappointed and when the Reds faced Barca in a pre-season friendly shortly afterwards, the United players tried to send him a message.

Scholes told the Republik of Mancunia blog: “We were on the pre-season tour and it looked like he was going to sign for us and he ended up signing for Barcelona.
“And we were playing Barcelona on the tour. Because he didn’t sign for us, everyone wanted to boot him and kick him, but you couldn’t get near him. Brilliant player.”

Scholes’ then team-mate Quinton Fortune believes the Manchester weather worked against the deal as the Brazilian visited on a rainy day.




He told the club’s website : “I think we got it wrong by bringing Ronaldinho in at the wrong time of year as it was raining that day he arrived at Manchester Airport.
“If we’d have timed it with the right day, it could have been a different story.
“It would have been absolutely amazing to have him here. He’s one of the greatest players ever to play football and entertained with his skill, fun and joy.
“I was very fortunate to play for South Africa against him in the Olympics in front of 72,000 fans but, when he was at Barcelona, he was a different Ronaldinho so I’m hoping we get a glimpse of that and I hope I won’t have to mark him!”

United play Barcelona in two legends games this summer on Friday at the Nou Camp and then at Old Trafford on September 2.

Source:www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk