World’s most famous footballer Cristiano Ronaldo dropped shocking details that he was close to joining FC Barcelona from Sporting Lisbon in 2003 before he joined Manchester United. In an interview with El Chiringuito de Jugones, Ronaldo highlighted that he was initially been scouted by Barcelona, but ultimately decided to transfer to United where he would go on to work under the guidance of Sir Alex Ferguson.

Here’s What Cristiano Ronaldo Said

“Yes, it was when I was playing at Sporting Lisbon and I had the opportunity to join various clubs, one of which was Barcelona,” Ronaldo said.

“I remember being with a person 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 came along and signed me immediately. You know how fast everything moves in football,” he added.

Ronaldo Has Played With Biggest Clubs

Ronaldo has played with some of the biggest football clubs in the world which includes Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and now Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. But this revelation from Ronaldo has shocked his fans considering the intense rivalry between the Catalan club and Real Madrid over the years.

The Manchester United Years

The six-year stint Ronaldo served at Manchester United transformed a very promising young talent into one of the world’s most famous athletes. With a total of 84 goals to his credit and multiple Premier League titles along with a UEFA Champions League trophy, Ronaldo’s spell at United gave him a very good platform on which he further flourished.

What Would Have Happened If Ronaldo Had Joined Barcelona?

Cristiano Ronaldo’s remarks reflect how unpredictable football careers can be. If he would have opted to play for Barcelona, things would’ve been completely different and he could’ve been a part of Barcelona’s golden era.