I was World Cup star but Ronaldinho tricked me into ‘difficult’ Manchester United transfer – he owes me one
After winning the 2002 World Cup with Brazil, the world was Kleberson’s oyster. But one year later an intervention from teammate Ronaldinho proved to be a sliding doors moment in his career. Kleberson never showed the same form he displayed for Brazil at Manchester UnitedGetty Images - Getty It might not feel that way with hindsight but Kleberson was a standout at the tournament hosted by Japan and South Korea. In the final, a 2-0 win over Germany, he hit the crossbar from long range and assisted Ronaldo‘s second goal. “He was always the first name on the team list, ahead of players like Ronaldo,” said national team boss Luiz Felipe Scolari. “Kleberson will have no problem adapting to The Premiership.” But just how did his £6.5million move to Old Trafford in 2003 come about? Well, he was also wanted by Newcastle United, Celtic, and Leeds – it really was a different time. And Barcelona also wanted in on the Atletico Paranaense star, according to reports. Clarifying his options with FourFourTwo magazine, he said: “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, too. When [Manchester] United’s interest in me was confirmed, I was with the national team in France for the FIFA Confederations Cup. “I can remember it 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!’” Kleberson dominated some of the game’s most elite midfielders in South Korea and JapanGetty “I was so glad that he would be coming with me,” he added. “I went back to Brazil and kept negotiating with United, but then Ronaldinho fooled me and went to play in the warm weather at Barcelona! He sent me to Manchester. “That’s a joke between us until today. He knows that he owes me one.” Ronaldinho had looked set to be a replacement for Real Madrid-bound David Beckham that summer, but instead was snared by Barcelona, who wanted to compete with that Galactico signing. “It almost happened with United,” said Ronaldinho. “It was a matter of 48 hours, but [Sandro] Rosell had told me way before I got the offer: ‘If I become Barca president, will you come?’ I said yes. “It was only a matter of details with United when Rosell called to say he was going to win the election there. And I had promised to him that I’d play for Barca.” Sir Alex spent months trying to sign Kleberson but he was joined by Cristiano Ronaldo – not RonaldinhoGetty Without Ronaldinho, Kleberson was joined at his unveiling by a young up-start from Madeira – Cristiano Ronaldo. And while the spritely winger quickly became a fan favourite as he began his rise to the very top of football, having won five Ballons d’Or, the Brazilian was quickly out of favour. Indeed it got so bad at one point that Roy Keane‘s infamous fury was directed at him. Teammate Eric Djemba-Djemba said: “Keane had a right go at Kleberson. Kleberson looked like he didn’t want to play with his body language, and wanted to play slowly. “I remember one Champions League game at Old Trafford, we went into the dressing room and Roy Keane was screaming at him. “He said ‘You need to wake up! You need to give everything, you need to tackle! Why don’t you want to want to play? You just won the World Cup! What’s happened? You need to play better!’ Kleberson did have some good moments in Manchester United shirt – but also got on the wrong side of KeaneGetty “It was definitely scary for Kleberson. He was always smiling, and was still smiling when Keane had a go at him, which would have made Keane even more angry.” And while the Brazilian’s career may not have been as he would have wished at Old Trafford, he remains philosophical about his time with the club. Speaking to the Manchester Evening News back in 2019, Kleberson said: “In my time at United, there was a great team with world-class players. I came with a lot of change in the team, there was five or six new players and the club were losing a couple of good players. “We came in strong mentally to try and help the team, and of course we were doing well, then the team is doing well; players adapt to this and bring their best performance.” He added: “When the team isn’t doing well, it’s hard to change your style, I couldn’t do it, when I came to Man United I tried to change the player I was, more passes, more aggression, more tackles, but it’s too hard and wasn’t what my game was about. “From 17 to 24 years old, I was playing that fluent Brazilian style, to move the ball quickly and receive it in space. At Man United I had tough moments a lot of the time, I got a lot of injuries and struggled a lot. Kleberson and Ronaldinho are good mates, despite the latter giving him the slip in 2003Getty - Contributor “It was a difficult time, and when you see a
After winning the 2002 World Cup with Brazil, the world was Kleberson’s oyster.
But one year later an intervention from teammate Ronaldinho proved to be a sliding doors moment in his career.
It might not feel that way with hindsight but Kleberson was a standout at the tournament hosted by Japan and South Korea.
In the final, a 2-0 win over Germany, he hit the crossbar from long range and assisted Ronaldo‘s second goal.
“He was always the first name on the team list, ahead of players like Ronaldo,” said national team boss Luiz Felipe Scolari.
“Kleberson will have no problem adapting to The Premiership.”
But just how did his £6.5million move to Old Trafford in 2003 come about?
Well, he was also wanted by Newcastle United, Celtic, and Leeds – it really was a different time.
And Barcelona also wanted in on the Atletico Paranaense star, according to reports.
Clarifying his options with FourFourTwo magazine, he said: “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, too. When [Manchester] United’s interest in me was confirmed, I was with the national team in France for the FIFA Confederations Cup.
“I can remember it 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 so glad that he would be coming with me,” he added.
“I went back to Brazil and kept negotiating with United, but then Ronaldinho fooled me and went to play in the warm weather at Barcelona! He sent me to Manchester.
“That’s a joke between us until today. He knows that he owes me one.”
Ronaldinho had looked set to be a replacement for Real Madrid-bound David Beckham that summer, but instead was snared by Barcelona, who wanted to compete with that Galactico signing.
“It almost happened with United,” said Ronaldinho. “It was a matter of 48 hours, but [Sandro] Rosell had told me way before I got the offer: ‘If I become Barca president, will you come?’ I said yes.
“It was only a matter of details with United when Rosell called to say he was going to win the election there. And I had promised to him that I’d play for Barca.”
Without Ronaldinho, Kleberson was joined at his unveiling by a young up-start from Madeira – Cristiano Ronaldo.
And while the spritely winger quickly became a fan favourite as he began his rise to the very top of football, having won five Ballons d’Or, the Brazilian was quickly out of favour.
Indeed it got so bad at one point that Roy Keane‘s infamous fury was directed at him.
Teammate Eric Djemba-Djemba said: “Keane had a right go at Kleberson. Kleberson looked like he didn’t want to play with his body language, and wanted to play slowly.
“I remember one Champions League game at Old Trafford, we went into the dressing room and Roy Keane was screaming at him.
“He said ‘You need to wake up! You need to give everything, you need to tackle! Why don’t you want to want to play? You just won the World Cup! What’s happened? You need to play better!’
“It was definitely scary for Kleberson. He was always smiling, and was still smiling when Keane had a go at him, which would have made Keane even more angry.”
And while the Brazilian’s career may not have been as he would have wished at Old Trafford, he remains philosophical about his time with the club.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News back in 2019, Kleberson said: “In my time at United, there was a great team with world-class players. I came with a lot of change in the team, there was five or six new players and the club were losing a couple of good players.
“We came in strong mentally to try and help the team, and of course we were doing well, then the team is doing well; players adapt to this and bring their best performance.”
He added: “When the team isn’t doing well, it’s hard to change your style, I couldn’t do it, when I came to Man United I tried to change the player I was, more passes, more aggression, more tackles, but it’s too hard and wasn’t what my game was about.
“From 17 to 24 years old, I was playing that fluent Brazilian style, to move the ball quickly and receive it in space. At Man United I had tough moments a lot of the time, I got a lot of injuries and struggled a lot.
“It was a difficult time, and when you see a lot of evaluation from your performance at top teams the criticism can be very high, particularly at Man United.”
Kleberson left the Red Devils after 30 appearances for Besiktas in 2005, two seasons after moving to Manchester.
That also ended after just two seasons but this time he made 67 appearances before heading back to Brazil with Flamengo where he won the title in 2009.
He would also have spells at Bahia, Philadelphia Union, Indy Eleven, and Fort Lauderdale Strikers before calling it quits in 2016.
