Sir Alex Ferguson was '99 per cent' sure Cristiano Ronaldo would come back to Manchester United, says Patrice Evra

Sir Alex Ferguson and Cristiano Ronaldo during Manchester United training in 2009 (Getty)

Sir Alex Ferguson was "99 per cent" sure that Cristiano Ronaldo was going to return to Manchester United in 2013, former club captain Patrice Evra has revealed.

Just weeks before announcing his retirment, the Scottish great had revealed to Evra, one of his most trusted players, that he was going to stay on for "another five years" and that he was confident that the Ballon d'Or winner was set to return to Old Trafford.

But the death of his wife's sister meant that Ferguson decided to retire at the end of the 2012-13 season, after guiding Manchester United to their 20th league title.

"I remember we talked maybe two weeks before and he said, 'Patrice, I will be here another five years,'" said Evra, in an interview with The Sunday Times.

"I said, 'yes boss, let's do it.' I was so convinced. He was looking younger and younger, amazing. He even told me '99 per cent, Cristiano Ronaldo will come'. I was like, 'wow, we are ready to bounce back and to even win the Champions League again'."

But after Ferguon's sudden retirement meant that a potential return from Real Madrid never happened for the Portuguese.

The Frenchman, now starring for Juventus, also admitted that he "felt lost" after Ferguson's departure. He left just 12 months later following David Moyes' disastrous campaign in charge.

"After that everyone knows what happened. You know when you are lost and you feel like the world is crumbling? It was a big trauma. I felt lost."