Cristiano Ronaldo to Manchester United: Alex Ferguson ‘99% sure’ forward will return to Old Trafford, says Patrice Evra

Ronaldo left Old Trafford in 2009 for a then world record £80m after six successful seasons with the club

According to Evra, Ferguson was convinced the player he signed from Sporting Lisbon for £12.25m would return (Getty Images)

Alex Ferguson said he was ‘99%’ sure Cristiano Ronaldo would return to Manchester United after moving to Real Madrid, according to former United left-back Patrice Evra.

Ronaldo left Old Trafford in 2009 for a then world record £80m after six successful seasons with the club, but has recently been linked with a move back to his former club after Real's torrid start to the season.

According to Evra, Ferguson was convinced the player he signed from Sporting Lisbon for £12.25 million as an 18-year-old would one day return to the club he fired to three consecutive Premier League titles.

Evra, who now plays for Juventus, told BBC Radio 5 Live: “[Ferguson] said ‘I’m 99% Cristiano Ronaldo will come.’”

The 34-year-old French international says that he spoke to the three-time Ballon d’Or winner “a lot” following the transfer in a bid to persuade him to move back to United, with Ronaldo expressing his “love” for the club.

Before Real Madrid played Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Champions League in March 2013, Evra says Ronaldo told him: “All night I couldn’t sleep. I even had a nosebleed because of too much emotion.”

Ronaldo, who became Real's all-time record goalscorer last month, has been linked with a move following a run in which he has failed to score in nine of his last 13 appearances for club and country.

Louis van Gaal has confirmed United's interest, while French league champions Paris Saint-Germain are also known to be keen to sign the Portugal captain.

Ronaldo is also thought to be at loggerheads with under-pressure manager Rafa Benitez, whose side sit in third place in La Liga behind rivals Barcelona and Atletico following a humiliating 4-0 defeat in El Clasico.