Cristiano Ronaldo Names The 4 Teams Who Wanted To Sign Him Before Man Utd Move

As if proof was needed that Cristiano Ronaldo remains one of the top players in the game, the Portuguese star's lucrative new £500,000-per-week contract with Real Madrid, signed this week, should be enough. 


However, the multi-time Ballon d'Or winner hasn't always been the biggest name in the sport and, like any other player, he started his professional career as a relative unknown.

That all changed when, aged just 18, Manchester United signed Ronaldo for £12.24 million from Sporting Lisbon back in 2003.

According to Ronaldo, though, there were at least four clubs interested in his signature before the Red Devils made their move.

Speaking whilst on international duty with Portugal, the 31-year-old named four European powerhouses who he says had their eye on him during his very early days at Sporting.

"When I’d played a few games with Sporting, I awoke the interest of various European clubs," Ronaldo said, via Sport. "Such as Inter, Arsenal, Valencia and Barcelona."