---
title: "Man United legend ‘fell in love’ with Arsenal before move to England"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/man-united-legend-fell-in-love-with-arsenal-before-move-to-england/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Josh Challies"
section: "Arsenal Football Club"
published: "2015-11-03T19:11:05Z"
modified: "2015-11-03T19:11:05Z"
---

# Man United legend ‘fell in love’ with Arsenal before move to England

![It is his last chance for a big move](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Cristiano-Ronaldo.jpg)Manchester United and Arsenal fans have both been surprised by claims they’ve head in the Transfer Tavern today, which could have changed the course of recent footballing history.

With [Guillem Balague’s biography on Cristiano Ronaldo being serialised in *The Telegraph*](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/players/cristiano-ronaldo/11963224/Why-Arsenal-and-Liverpool-missed-out-on-signing-Cristiano-Ronaldo.html), it’s been revealed that Arsenal once led the chase for the Portuguese sensation and [the player ‘fell in love’ with the Gunners.](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3301681/Cristiano-Ronaldo-fell-love-Arsenal-Liverpool-5-7m-bid-star-sealed-Manchester-United.html)

> ‘Jorge Mendes had meetings with all of Europe’s top clubs about Cristiano Ronaldo – then at Sporting Lisbon – in early 2003. Liverpool decided to offer €8million (£5.7m).’
>
> “We were in a car and Jorge kept calling me to reiterate I had to make sure nobody saw me,” recalled Ronaldo. “We stopped at a service station and I had to have my face covered. Jorge was calling me every five minutes: ‘Be careful, be careful around people!’
>
> ‘Cristiano fell in love with the club, what it offered, the philosophy and the care with which young players are treated.’

Arsenal failed to agree a fee with Sporting Lisbon though and Manchester United then swooped, securing the youngster as an exciting addition ahead of the 2003/04 season.

Ronaldo came back to hurt Arsenal with starring performances across the competitions he faced the Gunners in, including scoring a free-kick in a Champions League semi-final back in 2010. He’s now widely considered as one of the best player’s in footballing history.

**Want to WIN a retro Cristiano Ronaldo Manchester United jersey? It’s simple! Just RT and follow below!**

> Want to WIN a classic 06/07 Ronaldo [#MUFC](https://twitter.com/hashtag/MUFC?src=hash) shirt? Just FOLLOW us and RETWEET to enter! [#CR7FilmWin](https://twitter.com/hashtag/CR7FilmWin?src=hash) [pic.twitter.com/Rbq5kglCPz](https://t.co/Rbq5kglCPz)
>
> — FootballFanCast.com (@FootballFanCast) [November 2, 2015](https://twitter.com/FootballFanCast/status/661230192392704000)