Cristiano Ronaldo reveals Barcelona transfer offer | OneFootball

Cristiano Ronaldo confirmed that Barcelona approached him over a potential transfer to Catalonia before he eventually opted to join Manchester United back in 2003.

After emerging as a spaghetti-haired sensation in Sporting CP's first team during the 2002/03 campaign, Ronaldo attracted interest from clubs across the continent. Deals with the likes of Juventus and Valencia were rumoured. United ultimately paid £12m for the then-18-year-old after a dazzling display in a friendly at the opening of the Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon.

United already had a long-standing relationship with Ronaldo and ultimately accelerated an existing agreement which had been in place for 2004. Barcelona were unwilling to bring their deal forward.

"Yes, it was when I was playing at Sporting, and I had the opportunity to join various clubs, one of which was Barcelona," Ronaldo told El Chiringuito in an exclusive interview.

"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 Manchester United came in and signed me immediately. You know how fast everything moves in football."

Cristiano Ronaldo formed an enduring rivalry with Barcelona icon Lionel Messi / David Ramos/GettyImages

At the time, Barcelona had just signed Ronaldinho, beating Manchester United to the signature of the future Brazilian icon after selling David Beckham to Real Madrid.

The Portuguese sensation would go on to join Real Madrid, Barcelona's arch-rivals, heightening the fearsome enmity which already existed between Spain's two giants by perennially challenging Lionel Messi for the title of 'best player in the world'.

"I loved playing in the Camp Nou. They booed me, they insulted me, and I loved that," Ronaldo insisted.

"I enjoyed scoring goals more at the Camp Nou than at the Santiago Bernabeu. When you are warming up and they are already whistling at you, that's what I love. That's the best part of football for me."

That stance is borne out in Ronaldo's record against Barcelona. The Madrid icon scored 14 goals in 17 games at Camp Nou - compared to only six in 17 matches outside Catalonia.