Cristiano Ronaldo revealed that he was near becoming a member of Barcelona from Sporting Lisbon.© AFP
Cristiano Ronaldo donned the white of Real Madrid like nobody else. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner joined Los Merengues in 2009 after seven seasons at Manchester United. He spent the subsequent seasons within the Spanish capital, profitable quite a few titles, together with 2 LaLiga trophies and 4 Champions League. He left the membership as their all-time main scorer with 451 strikes in 438 aggressive appearances, becoming a member of Italian Giants Juventus in the summertime of 2018. During these 9 seasons in Madrid, Ronaldo’s El Clasico battles with Barcelona’s Lionel Messi formed a brand new period of soccer.
However, Ronaldo has now made a surprising revelation that he was near becoming a member of Barcelona from Sporting Lisbon, earlier than eventual transfer to the crimson half of Manchester in 2003.
Speaking to journalist Edu Aguirre on El Chiringuito de Jugones, Ronaldo revealed that he was initially scouted by Barcelona, earlier than he finally selected to affix Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United.
“Yes, it was once I was enjoying at Sporting Lisbon and I had the chance to affix numerous golf equipment, one in every of which was Barcelona,” Ronaldo instructed Aguirre, who’s an in depth pal of the Portugues icon.
“I keep in mind being with an individual from Barcelona who needed to signal me, however it did not occur. Maybe they needed to carry me in, however it will have been for the next yr. Then, a membership like (Manchester United) got here alongside and signed me instantly. You understand how quick every little thing strikes in soccer,” he added.
Given Real Madrid’s bitter rivalry with Barcelona, Ronaldo becoming a member of the Catalan giants appears unimaginable. Had he chosen a distinct profession path, he would possibly’ve performed alongside Messi within the the Blaugrana colors.
For the unversed, Ronaldo was additionally approached by the then Arsenal supervisor Arsene Wenger, who admitted that not having the ability to signal the Portugal captain was the most important remorse of his managerial profession.
