The list of superstar players Arsene Wenger nearly signed for Arsenal is a lengthy one that contains some seriously high-profile talent, but perhaps none more famous than Cristiano Ronaldo.
A five-time Ballon d'Or winner, Ronaldo is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers to ever grace the pitch. The first of those five Ballon d'Ors was won as a result of his ludicrous goal-scoring exploits in a Manchester United shirt, whom he joined from Sporting CP in 2003.
However, things could have gone so differently had Arsenal acted sooner. The Gunners were in talks with a then-teenage Ronaldo while he was still in Portgual with a view to a permanent switch to North London, but Sir Alex Ferguson swooped after the forward enjoyed a sensational showing during a pre-season fixture against the Red Devils.
