Manchester United have made some incredible signings over the years, who have gone on to become bonafide world class footballers.
It has been a rarity in the post Sir Alex Ferguson days, with Bruno Fernandes arguably the last player to achieve this, although Leny Yoro is well on his way to following suit.
In the past, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra and others were all signed before becoming among the best in the world, however, one signing in particular will be tough to ever top for Manchester United.
Manchester United signed Sporting Lisbon wonderkid Cristiano Ronaldo in summer 2003, paying £12.2 million at the time, which looks like an absolute bargain.
This is of course a name everyone will be aware of, as he went on to stake his claim among the greatest of all time.
- READ MORE: Who is Cristiano Ronaldo? Meet one of football’s most iconic names and undisputed Man Utd legend
Cristiano Ronaldo tore Manchester United apart 22 years ago today
The story of how Ronaldo came to join United is very well known. Just five days came between Ronaldo’s pre-season audition against the Red Devils, and the then teenager posing alongside Sir Alex in his multi-coloured sweater.
Ronaldo absolutely tormented John O’Shea in the game and this performance was surely what caused United to swiftly act and secure the signing of the then teenage sensation.
Ronaldo was electric in the game, and his display saw him running rings around his future teammates. This performance came 22 years ago today (August 6th), but the story of this game being the solitary factor behind his signing has been exaggerated over the years.
Speaking years later, former Manchester United chief executive Peter Kenyon revealed that United had already agreed to sign Ronaldo, but his performance led to an acceleration.
“He absolutely in that first half wiped the floor with us.
“I got a call, Roy Keane, Giggsy, made it quite clear we have got to take this boy home with us. So we stayed and we re-negotiated that deal so he could come to United straight away.
“We’d done a deal for Ronaldo prior to that. Against a lot of competition. And I was there to finish it, and the plan was, he would stay at Sporting another 12 months, because he wanted to play football, he wanted to develop.”
United missed out on Ronaldinho this summer which likely also contibuted to a deal being accelerated and moved forward.
Such drastic action of bringing the signing forward by 12 months shows just how impressed United were by Ronaldo, particularly the likes of Ryan Giggs as he demanded the signing.
Ronaldo made his Manchester United debut 10 days later
Ronaldo may have been intended to be a 2024 signing, but United were so impressed he made his United first team debut 10 days after this friendly.
After making the switch, George Best admitted being wowed by Ronaldo as he raved about the Portuguese starlet after his United debut.
“It was undoubtedly the most exciting debut performance I’ve ever seen. There have been players who have some similarities [to me], but this lad’s got more than anyone else, especially as he is genuinely two-footed.
“He can play on either wing, beat players with ease and put in dangerous crosses with his left or right peg. When was the last time you saw that?”
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