Cristiano Ronaldo chose to join Manchester United in 2003 because every other club that was interested in signing the winger wanted to loan him back to Sporting Lisbon, his agent Jorge Mendes has revealed.
Ronaldo, then aged 18, was highly sought after, with Arsenal amongst the other teams that attempted to sign him.
Mendes disclosed that then United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was hugely influential in determining Ronaldo's destination as he wanted the starlet to play straight away.
Mendes told The Sun: 'I've always maintained that the coach is, in the end, the most important component in any transfer.