Former Manchester United chief executive Peter Kenyon has revealed why the club turned to signing Cristiano Ronaldo after failing to lure Ronaldinho to Old Trafford.
Kenyon oversaw a huge summer back in 2003 which saw David Beckham leave the club to join Real Madrid and United fail in a bid to sign Ronaldinho as his replacement from Paris Saint-Germain.
The former United chief insists the club 'worked really hard' to lure World Cup winner Ronaldinho to the club but there came a point when the finances became too much to afford.
“We did try really hard for Ronaldinho,” he told the Daily Telegraph. “In the end we offered what was a load of money even by our standards and there came a point…
“Getting the player just for the amount of money paid didn’t sit well at United. There was a decision that if he is right and we do want him we will pay because we could.
“It crossed the line and on reflection – and this is not about his ability – it turned out to be a great decision.”
After failing in their bid to sign Ronaldinho attention turned to luring teenage sensation Ronaldo to United and transforming him into a world star.
The initial plan was for United to sign Ronaldo and loan him back to Sporting Lisbon for a season, but Kenyon says the famous pre-season friendly against the Portuguese club in 2003 soon changed Sir Alex Ferguson's mind.
Kenyon added: “I got a call at half-time saying, ‘Rather than leave him here, can we take him home please?’”
“So the team left the next day and I stayed to do it. That’s where Alex was absolutely amazing. He sold Manchester United better than anybody. He never over-promised but he got people wanting to be there.”
