Revealed: The real reason why Ruud van Nistelrooy left Manchester United in 2006
RUUD VAN NISTELROOY left Manchester United in 2006 under a cloud.
And what really happened between the Dutch superstar and Sir Alex Ferguson has finally been revealed.
The man in the middle of the action is non other than former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell, a confidant of Sir Alex's.
According to Campbell's latest batch of diaries published by Campbell, Van Nistelrooy certainly didn't leave Old Trafford in heroic circumstances.
Van Nistelrooy scored 150 goals for United in 219 appearances spread over five seasons and is still regarded as a club legend.
But Campbell has revealed the one interaction that decided his United fate with Fergie.
In June 1996 Campbell and Ferguson met up in the south of France.
The Sunday Times report Campbell as recording that "the United manager was not sure what was going to happen with Ruud van Nistelrooy [Man U player].
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"Very self-centred.
"The last straw was when he told Cristiano Ronaldo he had found a new dad in Carlos [Queiroz, Ferguson’s assistant] – just after Ronaldo’s dad, who was an alcoholic, had died.
"Carlos asked him to show respect and he said he didn’t respect anyone there.
"He later apologised but CR was not having it.
"Alex sent van Nistelrooy home when he heard about it later.
"He was not sure what he was going to do with him."
As it was Van Nistelrooy left for Real Madrid in July, 2006 with Ronaldo taking over his duties in the squad.
The Portuguese winger forged a lethal partnership with Wayne Rooney.
But he did link up with Van Nistelrooy again for one season at Real when Ronaldo made his £80million exit from Manchester.
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