Cristiano Ronaldo persuaded Man Utd over double swoop despite hating Manchester weather

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Manchester United defender Rafael has revealed how Cristiano Ronaldo called him to persuade him to join the Red Devils.Rafael, along with his identical twin Fabio, joined United in 2008 from boyhood side Fluminense at the age of 17.The pair went on to spend several years at Old Trafford, though Rafael enjoyed rather more success than his brother at Old Trafford before leaving in 2015.And the former Brazil international has revealed all on his phone call with Ronaldo, who had trained with during trials at Carrington in the past.“He called my phone, and I'll never forget that,” Rafael told the UTD Podcast.“My phone had all the zeros [on the screen, to indicate an international call] and I was saying ‘Who is this?

I've never received a call like this.’“I answered, and I knew him because I'd trained with him before.“He just said: ‘Ah, [Portuguese greeting]!’ I ran to my bus saying: ‘It's Ronaldo, it's Ronaldo!

He's calling us to speak!’“He just said: ‘It's raining here, it's raining here in Manchester, like you know.’ He said: ‘I call to say to you guys: sign for Manchester United.

I know you are going to like it’ et cetera.“I could not believe [it]. It was amazing.”A then 21-year-old Ronaldo had made his disdain for the typically-dreary Manchester weather well known back in 2006.Want to be on the ball with all of the latest football news?Well then sign up for the brilliant Daily Star football email newsletter!From the latest transfer news to the agenda-setting stories, get it all in your email inbox - don't miss a thing.It only takes a matter of seconds.Simply type your email address into the box at the top of this article and hit 'subscribe'.And that's it, job done.