Moment Brazil legend Ronaldo accidentally agreed to sign for Fulham with former owner then demanding he play
BRAZIL legend Ronaldo once accidentally agreed to sign for Fulham.
And ex-owner Mohamed Al Fayed demanded he play in the Premier League – despite the ace being contracted to Real Madrid at the time.
Ronaldo, 46, is one of football’s most iconic players thanks to his glittering club and international career.
The former striker netted 414 goals while starring for the likes of Real, AC Milan, Inter, Barcelona and Brazil.
Ronaldo, now owner of Spanish club Real Valladolid, won numerous trophies including TWO World Cups.
But despite his achievements, ‘The Phenomenon’ may end up regretting a missed opportunity to play in England’s top flight.
According to journalist Tony Banks, Ronaldo once accidentally agreed to play for Fulham.
During his Real Madrid Galactico days, he ended up in London doing a book-signing event at Knightsbridge superstore Harrods – owned at the time by Al Fayed.
The billionaire, who passed away this month aged 94, cheekily asked Ronaldo to turn out on the pitch at Craven Cottage.
And due to the language barrier, Ronaldo accidentally agreed to play.
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However, it was a serious matter for Al Fayed, who several weeks later demanded Ronaldo was thrust into Fulham’s starting XI for an upcoming Premier League clash.
Banks told the Fulhamish podcast: “Ronaldo comes to Harrods for a book signing.
“He’s at Real Madrid at the time knocking in the goals.
“He’s signing his autobiography in Harrods and Al Fayed wonders into the room and says ‘you can come and play for Fulham’.
“Ronaldo’s not very good with his English and says: ‘Yeah, yeah, sometime’.
“Two weeks later, Andy Ambler (Fulham’s then-finance director) gets a call in the office.
“(Al Fayed tells him): ‘Get Ronaldo in for Saturday’. Ambler replies: ‘What do you mean?’
“Fayed says: “He said he’ll play for Fulham one day – well I want him Saturday’.”