Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has claimed that Real Madrid ace Cristiano Ronaldo had once come so close to joining Arsenal that he was given his own No. 9 team shirt.
The Portuguese superstar had reportedly a week-long stint with Arsenal when he was a teenager and Wenger had given him an Arsenal shirt with No. 9 and his name on the back, believing that they were going to sign him.
However, the Mirror reports that Wenger said that defending Premier League champions Manchester United snatched the winger away at the last minute from multi-sports Portugal club Sporting Lisbon.
Wenger further said that Ronaldo is still the complete player ahead of Real Madrid's new record signing Gareth Bale, adding that he has a different style as compared to Barcelona star Lionel Messi.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
