Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed that he was close to joining Barcelona from Sporting Lisbon before ultimately making the move to Manchester United in 2003.
Ronaldo spent six years at United, scoring 84 goals as a winger, winning Premier League titles, and securing a UEFA Champions League trophy, before making his record-breaking transfer to Real Madrid in 2009.
At Madrid, Ronaldo solidified his place as a football legend, netting 451 goals in 438 appearances across all competitions. He became the club’s all-time top scorer and played a key role in their dominance in Europe, winning four Champions League titles with the club.
In an interview with El Chiringuito de Jugones, Ronaldo recalled how Barcelona had initially scouted him, but he eventually chose to join Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson.
“Yes, it was when I was playing at Sporting Lisbon, and I had the opportunity to join several clubs, one of which was Barcelona,” Ronaldo said. “I remember being with someone from Barcelona who wanted to sign me, but it didn’t happen. Maybe they wanted to bring me in, but it would have been for the following year. Then, a club like United came along and signed me immediately. You know how quickly things move in football,” he added.
