''My biggest regret, I was close, to signing Cristiano Ronaldo, and not only did I not get him but he signed for Manchester United, so that of course still hurts today. - Arsene Wenger, September 2014.
Its been well documented that prior to his move to Manchester United in 2003, Cristiano Ronaldo had been courted by both Arsenal and Liverpool.
''I met Arsene on three occasions and one of those times was with my mum, who wanted to hear what he was proposing. The contact we had with him and Arsenal meant it was very close to being a done deal. Really, we were within touching distance. Wenger remains someone that I still have immense esteem for and its clear that hes a really intelligent football guy. My mum feels the same way and a while after I signed for United she and I were sitting watching a Premier League game on television and she yelled out I know that guy, I liked him! - Cristiano Ronaldo, December 2008.
Considering the obviously close relationship he shares with the Old Trafford faithful, having won three league titles, three domestic trophies and a Champions League, there is no way the Portuguese superstar would have sacrificed that bond for a trophy-less stint with their rivals, despite the respect he has for the boss Arsenal boss. Ronaldos career path would take him to the Santiago Bernabeu in 2009, where has further excelled, with only Lionel Messi rivalling him as the worlds greatest footballer. With another Champions League medal added to his collection, one can be sure that Cristiano doesnt toss and turn about having missed out on the chance to play with Emmanuel Eboue for the formative years of his career.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
