Man Utd star admits Ronaldinho 'tricked' him into signing for English club

Manchester United attracted the biggest names in football during the Sir Alex Ferguson era, but World Cup winner Ronaldinho proved elusive.

Ronaldinho was in negotiations for a move from Paris Saint-Germain to Man Utd after the World Cup in 2002, but a promise to future Barcelona president Sandro Rosell led him to Spain.

“It almost happened with United. It was a matter of 48 hours, but Rosell had said to me long before I got the offer: 'If I become president of Barca, will you come?' I said yes,” Ronaldinho once told the media.

"It was just a matter of details with United when Rosell called to say he was going to win the election there. And I had promised him I would play for Barca."

The rest is history. Ronaldinho continued his ascent to greatness, the trophies he won at Barcelona overshadowed by the admiration of fans of the beautiful game around the world.

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But, Man Utd signed a Brazilian World Cup winner in the summer of 2003 and he expected his international teammate to go to the Premier League with him.

Kleberson was a major contributor to Brazil's fifth World Cup victory and was in demand the following season.

He told FourFourTwo: "There were two clubs interested in signing me: Manchester United and Leeds. It was an easy choice, but there's a funny story about it. When Manchester United's interest in me was confirmed, I was with the national team in France for the FIFA Confederations Cup."

"I remember clearly: I was with Ronaldinho and his brother/agent, Assis. Ronaldinho said: 'They want to sign both of us' and I said 'OK, let's go then!'"

"I was very happy that he would come with me."

He didn't, of course. Instead, Kleberson was introduced alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and the former Atletico Paranaense youngster's time in Manchester didn't go according to plan.

He made just 20 Premier League appearances and did not win many fans in the stands or the dressing room, being told that he did not meet Roy Keane's expectations with predictable results.

"I went back to Brazil and continued to negotiate with United, but then Ronaldinho cheated me and went to play in the warm weather in Barcelona! He sent me to Manchester," Kleberson added. "That's a joke between us to this day. He knows he owes me."

Kleberson left Man Utd for Besiktas in 2005 and returned to Brazil two years later, playing for Flamengo and Bahia as well as on loan at Paranaense. /Telegraph/