Cristiano Ronaldo's agent has claimed that his client was close to joining Arsenal before he completed a move to Manchester United in 2003.
According to Jorge Mendes, the Gunners had all but agreed a deal with the Portuguese attacker's club Sporting Lisbon.
However, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson trumped Arsenal's offer and Ronaldo signed on at Old Trafford.
"I remember what happened to Ronaldo at Arsenal," Mendes said.
"They watched him nine or 10 times, and when everything seemed decided, then Manchester United played at the inauguration of the Alvaladze Stadium and the players themselves urged Ferguson to buy him."
Ronaldo, 27, joined Real Madrid in 2009 for a fee of £80m.
