Sir Alex Ferguson had been under immense pressure from Manchester United's board.
The young talent he'd insisted on signing from Sporting CP for £12 million had now spent three seasons at the club—yet his performances remained inconsistent. Worse, the boy's youthful impulsiveness had stirred up drama during the World Cup, fracturing the locker room dynamic and landing United in British tabloid headlines.
Seeking a solution, Ferguson turned to his former player and longtime friend, Denis Irwin—a man known as United's "Mr. Reliable" in the late 90s.
But instead of advice on managing the locker room, Irwin presented him with another dilemma.
"I have a nephew—Claire Lee. You met him when he was 13."
"He's my sister's boy. You saw her at my wedding."
"Like his mother, he's got a good heart."
"He joined United's academy when you revamped the youth system."
"At 19, I pulled some strings to send him to Queens Park Rangers—where you started your career."
"He's been there a year now."
"And here's the thing: He fought his way into the starting lineup on sheer grit."
"Last month, he played a full season in League One. Zero goals, but 12 assists. Didn't embarrass United once."
The conversation happened abruptly—right in Ferguson's car. The moment Irwin started, Ferguson sensed trouble.
Before he could interject, Irwin pressed on:
"We all know Cristiano isn't meeting expectations. The board wants results, and money talks."
"But gaffer, what he needs isn't criticism—it's a pivot. Someone to feed him the ball."
"My nephew could be that player. His temperament, his vision—he'd elevate Cristiano."
"More goals for Ronaldo means fewer locker room fires. And a happy superstar? That's priceless for the club."
Ferguson fell silent, memories flooding back.
When United's legendary No. 7 shirt was vacant, he'd gambled £12 million on a raw, flashy kid from Lisbon. He'd given Ronaldo the number, the minutes, even fatherly guidance.
But the last two seasons?
2004-05 Premier League: 33 appearances, 5 goals 2004-05 Champions League: 8 appearances, 0 goals
The board's patience was thinning.
"Our forward line is stacked," Ferguson finally said. "If he were a defender, maybe."
Irwin, impeccably suited, didn't flinch. "Gaffer, when you needed me most, I chose United."
"Now I'm asking you—give my nephew one shot. If he flops, I'll never mention it again."
"But remember—when my sister died, I was on the pitch with you."
Ferguson's gaze drifted to Ronaldo training in the distance. Without another word, he nodded.
The Trap
The moment Ferguson arrived at Loftus Road, he realized he'd been played.
The lineup alone screamed favoritism:
Queens Park's interim manager, Bruno Elin Brighton's reserve coach, Mickey Adams
Both had ties to United's old guard.
Now, the three men—Irwin, Elin, Adams—stood before Ferguson like a tribunal.
"This is a friendly," Ferguson warned. "But I expect proper football."
Irwin just smirked. Elin pointed at the scouts and cameras behind Ferguson and shook his head dismissively.
Adams chuckled. "Brighton doesn't do favors. And with you as the only spectator? Cheating's beneath us."
Match: QPR (Blue) vs. Brighton Reserves (White)
Seven minutes in, the game was already brutal.
Whether it was Ferguson's presence or sheer pride, both teams played like it was a derby—elbows flying, tackles late. The referee turned a blind eye.
QPR's possession stats lagged, but their striker, Ball, had already spearheaded a dangerous attack—denied only by a last-ditch save.
Elin stormed the touchline, barking at Claire:
"Wake up! Show me what you did yesterday!"
Ferguson murmured to his scouts, then settled in to watch.
"Elin's tactics are Bundesliga-influenced," Irwin noted. "His set-pieces saved QPR from relegation."
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