Cristiano Ronaldo came close to joining Juventus before Manchester United move, insists former Old Lady director  

  • Juventus came close to signing then-Sporting starlet Cristiano Ronaldo
  • Marcelo Salas scuppered move by refusing to move in opposite direction
  • Ronaldo ended up joining Manchester United for £12.24million  

Juventus were close to signing Cristiano Ronaldo from Sporting Lisbon until then-Old Lady star Marcelo Salas refused to move in the opposite direction, according to former director Franco Ceravolo.

Ceravolo claims he was inches away from concluding a deal for the Real Madrid superstar before Salas refused to be used as a makeweight in the deal.

Ronaldo eventually joined Manchester United for £12.24million in 2003, where he won three Barclays Premier League titles, an FA Cup winner's medal and the Champions League.

Cristiano Ronaldo came close to joining Juventus during his younger years at Sporting Lisbon

Cristiano Ronaldo came close to joining Juventus during his younger years at Sporting Lisbon

Ronaldo, pictured as a teenager at Sporting Lisbon, ended up joining Manchester United in 2003

Ronaldo, pictured as a teenager at Sporting Lisbon, ended up joining Manchester United in 2003

Marcelo Salas (right, pictured with David Trezeguet in 2001) refused to move in the opposite direction 

Marcelo Salas (right, pictured with David Trezeguet in 2001) refused to move in the opposite direction 

'I wanted to take Cristiano Ronaldo for Juve, we were close to doing a deal,' Ceravolo told the Mirror.

'It was all done but [Marcelo] Salas refused the transfer to Sporting Lisbon.'

Luciano Moggi, speaking back in 2013, also said Juventus had wrapped up a deal to sign the Portuguese star until Salas scuppered the move.

'We had everything signed with Sporting Lisbon,' said Moggi.

'We had agreed a swap deal with Ronaldo in exchange for Salas, who accepted the move, went to Portugal, but then backed out.

'That's when Manchester United intervened. They were offering millions and we had no money to compete, so I had to cancel the contract. Ronaldo could have joined Juventus when he was 18.'

Manchester United made a huge profit on Ronaldo as the Red Devils sold the forward to Real Madrid for £80million in 2009.

Sir Alex Ferguson brought Ronaldo to Old Trafford after his proposed move to Juventus broke down

Sir Alex Ferguson brought Ronaldo to Old Trafford after his proposed move to Juventus broke down

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