Arsene Wenger often talks about the players who Arsenal nearly signed, but missed out on for various reasons. One of the men regularly put into that category is Cristiano Ronaldo.
When a youngster at Sporting, Ronaldo received much attention, and a transfer was inevitable sooner rather than later. Several clubs were vying to sign the player, but after a Sporting friendly against Manchester United, the Old Trafford club’s players convinced Sir Alex Ferguson to get a deal wrapped up soon.
It could all have been very different indeed, and Ronaldo has confirmed to Marca that Arsenal were one of the teams to make an approach for him before he signed for Manchester United.
Ronaldo is quoted by the Spanish newspaper as saying: “Yes, it was not expected that United would be my team. Other clubs had asked for me, like Valencia, Arsenal or Inter, but we played them and everyone knows what happened.”
Maybe if Arsenal and Wenger had been a little more sure and quick in their approach, Ronaldo would have helped Arsenal to titles, rather than Ferguson and Manchester United.
