LISBON – Portuguese football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed that he could have signed for FC Barcelona earlier in his career, a move that would have dramatically altered the course of football history.
In a recent interview, Ronaldo disclosed that before joining Manchester United in 2003, there was an opportunity for him to move to Barcelona instead. However, circumstances at the time led him to sign with Sir Alex Ferguson’s United, where he developed into one of the world’s best players.
“There was interest from several clubs, and Barcelona was one of them,” Ronaldo said. “But in the end, Manchester United was the right choice for me, and I have no regrets.”
The revelation has sparked discussions among football fans, with many wondering how Ronaldo’s career might have unfolded had he played alongside Barcelona legends such as Ronaldinho and, later, Lionel Messi. The rivalry between Ronaldo and Messi, which defined an era of football during their time at Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively, could have taken an entirely different form had they been teammates instead of competitors.
Despite never playing for Barcelona, Ronaldo went on to become a legend at Manchester United, Real Madrid, and later Juventus. He won multiple Ballon d’Or awards and set numerous records, particularly during his time in Spain, where he became Real Madrid’s all-time top scorer.
While the possibility of Ronaldo ever wearing the Barcelona jersey now seems improbable, his latest revelation adds another layer to the long-standing debate over football’s greatest “what if” moments.
