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Sport
Ryan Dabbs

‘Parma viewed him as the perfect replacement for Adrian Mutu, who’d left to sign for Chelsea. But Manchester United’s interest was much more concrete’: Cristiano Ronaldo's 2003 transfer details revealed by former Sporting director of football

Cristiano Ronaldo Manchester United Adrian Mutu Sporting Parma Chelsea Manchester Football Arsenal
STOKE, ENGLAND - AUGUST 13: Kleberson and Cristiano Ronaldo pose for photographers on the pitch at Old Trafford on August 13, 2003 in Manchester, England. (Photo by John Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images).

The details behind Cristiano Ronaldo's move to Manchester United in 2003 have been revealed by a former Sporting director of football, with Parma named as a surprise team who showed huge interest in the young Portuguese star in the making.

After breaking through at Sporting as a 17-year-old during the 2002/03 season, Ronaldo's representatives quickly started speaking with clubs such as Liverpool and Barcelona, with Arsenal emerging as the most-interested party. But while the Gunners never made a formal approach for Ronaldo, Italian side Parma did.

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