Real Madrid Transfer News: Cristiano Ronaldo Nearly Sent to Barcelona by United

Manchester United tried to sell Cristiano Ronaldo to preferred club Barcelona rather than Real Madrid, according to former Los Blancos president Ramon Calderon.

The Portuguese superstar made a then-world-record £80 million transfer from Old Trafford to the Bernabeu in July 2009 after protracted negotiations between the two clubs.

But Calderon has revealed that, not only did Ronaldo insist on staying in Manchester a year longer than necessary out of loyalty to Sir Alex Ferguson, but the Red Devils tried to send him elsewhere, per Sky Sports’ Revista de la Liga programme (via Eurosport):

"

It was funny, I don’t know why, but Ferguson is a bit obsessed with Real Madrid. He doesn’t like us very much, I have to say that. He then said no, Cristiano is not going to leave for Real Madrid and they offered the player to Barcelona, among other clubs, and Barca said that’s okay we are prepared to pay what you are asking. 

But the important thing was that the player said "no, it’s Real Madrid or nothing", and that was perfect, so I’m very proud that he came and very proud how he’s doing, very proud that he is scoring goals and how he’s behaving.

"

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

It is certainly common knowledge that Ferguson was unimpressed with the way Real pursued Ronaldo and he insisted that his star man was not for sale in the December before the eventual transfer, per Andy Hunter in The Guardian:

"You don't think we'd get into a contract with that mob, do you? Jesus Christ. I wouldn't sell them a virus," Ferguson said.

The legendary Scot's obvious animosity towards the Madrid club makes Calderon's claims that Ronaldo was offered to Barcelona eminently believable. 

However, the Portugal international did eventually fulfil his dream of moving to the Bernabeu and has won a La Liga title and the Champions League in his five years at the club, despite current president Florentino Perez thinking him too expensive at the time, according to his predecessor, per Sky Sports:

"

When Florentino became president and came to the club, he wanted to break (negotiations). He thought it was very expensive. He knew he was a good player but thought he wasn’t worth that amount of money. That was a problem he had at the beginning with Cristiano, who knew that.

"

Ronaldo has gone on to reach unprecedented levels individually and currently holds the Ballon d'Or with a well-deserved second consecutive crown likely coming in January, per Real boss Carlo Ancelotti via beIN Sports:

His form so far this season has been staggering as he has bagged 18 goals in 10 La Liga matches. Fox Sports reports his Madrid goalscoring stats which show he was worth every penny:

Whether he would have reached such levels if he had indeed moved to Barcelona instead is impossible to tell, but the idea that he may have partnered up with Lionel Messi is a fascinating prospect.

Andres Kudacki/Associated Press

The pair have consistently been pitted against each other in the argument surrounding their generation's greatest player and a team involving the two of them would likely be unstoppable.

However, Real have been the beneficiaries of Ronaldo's talents despite United trying to ship him off to their rivals and, at present, it is he who is making the difference as Los Blancos sit two points clear of the Camp Nou outfit in La Liga.