Manchester Weather Prevented Ronaldinho United Transfer, Claims Quinton Fortune

Ex-Manchester United winger Quinton Fortune claims that the Manchester weather was to blame for the club’s failure to land Ronaldinho in 2003. Last week, ex-Barca president Joan Laporta suggested that the prospective deal fell through because the Catalans could not tempt David Beckham from Manchester United. Ronaldinho joined Barca from Paris Saint Germain in 2003 […]
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sambafoot_admin
2017-06-27 18:09:00

Ex-Manchester United winger Quinton Fortune claims that the Manchester weather was to blame for the club’s failure to land Ronaldinho in 2003. Last week, ex-Barca president Joan Laporta suggested that the prospective deal fell through because the Catalans could not tempt David Beckham from Manchester United.

Ronaldinho joined Barca from Paris Saint Germain in 2003 and went onto win two World Player of the Year awards. But Fortune, who played for United at the time, has suggested the explanation was simpler.

“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. Maybe it was summer anyway but, if we’d have timed it with the right day, it could have been a different story,” he told the United website.

“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.”