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Alessandro Moggi told Tuttosport that Cristiano Ronaldo nearly joined Juventus
Moggi claims Ronaldo's agent wanted him to move to Italy when he was just 18
He also says Parma and Lazio rejected the then young Sporting Lisbon player

Published: 07:19 EDT, 1 November 2017 | Updated: 08:21 EDT, 1 November 2017

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Cristiano Ronaldo was on the brink of signing for Italian giants Juventus back in 2003, claims Italian agent Alessandro Moggi.

Ronaldo however, ended up signing for Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United and hit the ground running but things could have turned out very differently for the Portuguese international.

Moggi told Italian sports paper Tuttosport that Ronaldo's agent Jorge Mendes contacted him, asking for assistance in helping find a new club for the then highly talented Sporting Lisbon youngster.

Cristiano Ronaldo is preparing for Real Madrid's Champions League clash against Tottenham

The 44-year-old agent claims that Ronaldo was offered to Parma and Lazio but they turned him down as he was too young for them.

Moggi said: 'In 2003, Mendes was looking to engineer a move for his first great player: Cristiano Ronaldo. He was a kid of 18 who had just made his debut for Sporting and Mendes wanted him to move to Italy.

'We tried to help them out and offered him to Parma and Lazio but he was rejected by both. Juventus on the other hand said yes and sent us to Lisbon with Mendes to tie up the deal with Sporting.

'In a matter of half a day, he became a Manchester United player.