Wenger reveals Ronaldo interest

Arsene Wenger has revealed he was interested in signing Cristiano Ronaldo well before Manchester United – but could not afford the Portuguese teenager.

Ronaldo, 18, was eventually signed by Alex Ferguson £12.24m (€17.61m), making him one of the game’s most expensive teenagers.

That was a fee Arsenal, with the financial restrictions of their new stadium plans, could not even dream of matching.

Wenger, whose side visit Old Trafford on Sunday, said: “We were highly interested in him as well, even before Manchester United, but the price was much too high for us.

“He’s an outstanding talent, a world-class talent. He is very creative with the ball and has that kind of arrogance you need to provoke people when you have the ball at your feet.

“He needs to get more experience but I believe he’s a great buy. He has such quick feet and such good coordination.”