Madrid Turned Down Ronaldo

Luis Martins, Sporting Lisbon's former youth team coach, has revealed that Real Madrid turned down a chance to sign Cristiano Ronaldo in 2003.

Martins, who coached Ronaldo for three years, from 1997 to 2000, has revealed how Real Madrid looked at him in 2003, before deciding not to sign him.
"I was in Madrid in 2003 to complete my training as a coach," said Martins.

"By then the Real Madrid scouts had already followed Cristiano, and it appeared that they were already in contact with Sporting to sign him.

"I recommended him to them. I do not know why they did not sign him."

Martins also revealed Ronaldo had always wanted to do well in Spain.

"Cristiano has always said the same thing to me, that he wants to succeed in Spain, which he considers to be the best league in the world.

"And he is not going to stop until he achieves it."

Of course, 2003 was the year Los Merengues pipped Barcelona to David Beckham, the Catalans pipped Manchester United to Ronaldinho, and the Red Devils picked up the Portuguese winger.

Batman wrote:Luis Martins, Sporting Lisbon's former youth team coach, has revealed that Real Madrid turned down a chance to sign Cristiano Ronaldo in 2003.

"I recommended him to them. I do not know why they did not sign him."

At the time Ronaldo was unknown and would had cost less money, why in name of God would Madrid do this ?

Real Madrid likes it when a player hit big in Europe, have their value exploded by thousands , so THEN make a move and spend 40 times more for the same player, it’s the Madrid way of make business, witch I found quite endearing, since its their way of spread wealth to others clubs

I still think that Florentino didn’t get Kaka because he wasn’t a Galactico at the time, a star.

Perez only wanted to buy finished products, and felt buying youth players were too risky and only used Castilla players.

CR and Kaka were both on scouting list, but Perez never made the funds avialable.

You could of probably had Kaka and CR for the same amount you paid for Beckham.

Parks lives wrote:You could of probably had Kaka and CR for the same amount you paid for Beckham.

Probably a fraction of what we paid for Becks, and hell it would have been more worth while. - That's fucked.

Target Man wrote:Perez only wanted to buy finished products, and felt buying youth players were too risky and only used Castilla players.

CR and Kaka were both on scouting list, but Perez never made the funds avialable.

I liked Perez...at least he had balls to do what others thought was madness!

Dick Grayson wrote:

Target Man wrote:Perez only wanted to buy finished products, and felt buying youth players were too risky and only used Castilla players.

CR and Kaka were both on scouting list, but Perez never made the funds avialable.

I liked Perez...at least he had balls to do what others thought was madness!

What, construct a team of prima donas, make lots of money for the club, and win Sweet FA?

Inter turned down Messi and Kaka

Dick Grayson wrote:

Target Man wrote:Perez only wanted to buy finished products, and felt buying youth players were too risky and only used Castilla players.

CR and Kaka were both on scouting list, but Perez never made the funds avialable.

I liked Perez...at least he had balls to do what others thought was madness!

well this is true and why some madrid fans still like him. he belived in attacking play only,which was why he didnt want to pay viera what he wanted in wages.also he wanted his team to play good football so i respect that too. and finally he started out by saying that we should have the best players(figo,zizou,ronaldo) in the world and that worked quite fine untill he decided that he wanted more marketable players(becks and owen i suppose). his original idea worked well he just got way over his head.