Cristiano Ronaldo Almost Signed For Another Club Before Joining Manchester United

On the 7th August 2003, Cristiano Ronaldo made a statement. Playing for Sporting Lisbon against Manchester United in a friendly, the ultra-talented 18-year-old dazzled on the big stage.

The Manchester United players were convinced that Ronaldo had to join the club. First team players asked Sir Alex Ferguson to sign the Portuguese winger at half-time. He absolutely destroyed the Reds that day.

But it could have been very different for the former Manchester United player.

It has emerged that Ronaldo came close to joining Italian giants Juventus before signing for Manchester United in 2003 for £12.1 million.

Talks with the Italian side broke down before he signed for United, as former Juve scout Gianni Di Marzio explains how Ronaldo travelled to Turin to attend a medical:

"I made a report on Cristiano and went to watch him play for Sporting against Belenenses.

"I spoke to the kid and to his mother and the following day both of them were in Turin, where he underwent a medical. But in the end it didn't come together.

"As part of the deal, Marcelo Salas was supposed to go to Sporting but he refused to go and the transfer broke down."

Ronaldo went onto make 293 appearances for Manchester United between 2003-2009, scoring 118 goals for the club.

Here is what Cristiano Ronaldo could spend a months wages on:

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Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare is a writer at SPORTbible. He's interviewed some of the biggest names in sport, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Pele, Carles Puyol and Tim Henman. He dabbles in all things sport but football is his biggest passion. He was once hit in the head by a wayward strike from Nicky Butt and lived to tell the tale.

@jackkenmare_