FORMER BIRMINGHAM OWNER David Sullivan claims the Blues could have signed Cristiano Ronaldo for £6 million (€7.6m) before he moved to Manchester United in 2003.
The Portugal international was signed by Sir Alex Ferguson as an 18-year-old and moved to Old Trafford from Sporting Lisbon in a deal worth €15.5m.
Ronaldo went on to spend six years at United, winning the Champions League and three Premier League titles before signing for Real Madrid in 2009.
However, Sullivan claims Birmingham could have captured the teenager who was offered to the Blues before opting to sign for the Red Devils.
“Before he went to Man United, we were offered him for £6m, and he chose United ahead of us,” he told Sky Sports programme Soccer AM.
“There was a deal to be done. When he first went to United there were lots of doubts about him. He wasn’t the star that he is now.”
Ronaldo is the current Ballon d’Or holder and the heavy favourite to win this year’s award after firing Madrid to Champions League glory in May.
Congrats Leinster – well deserved and now officially the best Rugby province in Ireland :)
come on rte why can’t ye show this match hard to listen to Irish commentary drive u mad
watch it with radio commentary
Anthony
Will you ever stop complaining. Fair play to TG4
What’s the point having tmo when ye don’t use him??
Goes upstairs for other tries when they were clear tries and doesn’t bother when it’s marginal call
Thoroughly agree – perfect tries he goes upstairs and Laulala’s TRY he disallows it – no knock on by Earls – what a wan#er !
Come on Munster, Leinster are all mouth and no trousers. 20-15 win for the brave and the true. Tough luck ladyboys.
Not looking likely there
What type of idiot are you? Go back to your cave
What type of idiot are you? Go and buy a big bottle of cop-on. Dope.
breaking my bollix laughing Munster third best team in Ireland now
Your a bollix
enjoyed watching the Magpie. he had a great game in the back tonight
Bit worried about him for a a few moments in the second half, but good to see him to get back in the pitch to finish out an impressive debut.
Sing with Gusto
The Ref-er-ree iz uh bazturd
De Referee haz d last Wurd
Then recite the following twenty times:
No more & no less ye deserve
the Leinster lads held their nerve
And now ye give out, ye grumpy red lout
Ye sore losing whupped little sprout
Steven! Bit premature there dontchathink! Next time buddy.
2 against 1 isn’t fair the ref and Leinster on the same side
Kerry looks fairly bet into that Mack, it looks like he’s wearing a kids jacket!