By Mike Parrott
Cristiano Ronaldo nearly joined Valencia in 2006 after his infamous World Cup bust-up with Wayne Rooney. Valencia's former sporting director Amedeo Carboni said they had everything signed but ultimately fell through.
Cristiano Ronaldo has been playing in Europe's top level for over 15 years, dominating every league he steps in to. However, he nearly didn't have the chance to lead Manchester United to domestic and european success.
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Just before Ronaldo became the man everyone knows now, the Portuguese forward nearly escaped England for Spain three years earlier than he actually did. This comes after Valencia's former sporting director, Amedeo Carboni, said that Ronaldo had agreed to join Valencia in 2006.
"We had found the financial resources to get him," Carboni told Il Posticipo. "We had made arrangements with Nike and Coca Cola. Ronaldo at that time was already earning 10 million net a year, a lot for a club like Valencia."
"Then we reached the stage where Cristiano had argued with Manchester United. In 2006-07 Valencia was experiencing a 'boom', and I had his 'yes' to sign him."
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Ronaldo had already revealed that he was about to depart from Manchester after the abuse he was receiving from many England fans over the summer.
The forward said in 2006:
"I think I should get out of Manchester. The circumstances are not right to keep playing in Manchester. In two or three days, I will decide where to go. I always said I wanted to play in Spain. Nobody stood up for me at Manchester, although I did not do anybody any harm."
CR7 as we know ended up staying at United for another three years, leading them to three-straight Premier League titles, one Champions League and won himself the 2008 Ballon D'Or.
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What could have been.
What do you think of Ronaldo nearly joining Valencia?
Let us know in the comments below.
Featured Image Credit:Topics: valencia, Football, Manchester United, Juventus, Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid
