Cristiano Ronaldo is on the brink of a sensational return to the Premier League with Champions Manchester City.
The Portuguese hotshot enjoyed a stunning six-year spell just down the road from the Etihad at City's bitter rivals, Manchester United.
But the ex-United man revealed a couple of years ago just how close he came to joining a surprising alternative in Arsenal.
The Gunners had their sights set on Ronaldo when he was at Sporting Lisbon as a teenager.
The 36-year-old sparkled in Portugal, leading to a scrap for his signature which was ultimately won by United and Sir Alex Ferguson.
But, in an interview with Piers Morgan on ITV back in 2019, Ronaldo lifted the lid on just how close he came to joining Arsenal.
"I was one step away from joining Arsenal," Ronaldo said.
“It is true. Of course, it is true.
“Very close. One step. Seriously.”
Morgan is a renowned Gunners fan and took the opportunity to give the Juventus forward an Arsenal shirt - picturing what could have been had Ronaldo picked differently all those years back.
“Ok Piers, I am so… I want to apologise… ok, forgive me for not joining Arsenal,” joked Ronaldo.
“It didn’t happen, but Arsenal, I appreciate what they did for me, especially Arsene Wenger, but football you never know where you are going to play, life is like that.
“But I appreciate Arsenal because it is a fantastic club and you support Arsenal. And now you support Juventus.”
But now the Portuguese icon is on the brink of a shocking departure from Juve.
Can Ronaldo finally help Manchester City to Champions League glory? Let us know below.
There have been rumblings of Ronaldo's desire to manufacture an exit for the past couple of weeks in Turin, with the deadly attacker reportedly requesting to be left on the bench for last week's Serie A clash with Udinese.
It was reported on Thursday that a breakthrough had been made after Ronaldo's agent Jorge Mendes jetted into Turin to thrash out an arrangement for his client's exit.
And according to multiple sources, Manchester City have already struck a deal on personal terms with the former United man.
That just leaves City and Juventus to come to an agreement over a fee to complete one of the summer's most unbelievable deals in what has been a remarkable transfer window.
Lionel Messi has already completed a shocking free switch to Paris Saint-Germain earlier this summer after Barcelona faced registration issues due to their financial woes to La Liga.
And Kylian Mbappe could be on the brink of joining Ronaldo's old club, Real Madrid, in a blockbuster £137m deal.
Should Ronaldo and Mbappe following Messi in wrapping up switches, it would make this summer's transfer window one of the biggest in history.
Ronaldo has reportedly already spoken to City chief Pep Guardiola over his potential role in the City team as a return to the Premier League nudges closer.
It's a far cry from Ronaldo's previous stance when he was quizzed on a potential move to City back in 2015.
"You think the money is going to change my mind at 30 years old? I don't think, I don't think this going to be a problem," The former United star said.
"If you speak about the money I could go to Qatar, they would probably have more money than Manchester City. It's not about the money, it's about the passion."
But it appears the pull of one last crack at European glory with Guardiola and City has proved too strong - with Ronaldo set to be welcomed back to Manchester for one last hurrah.
