'I made Liverpool boss choke in shock after I turned them down for Man Utd'

Former Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier “almost choked” on his lunch after seeing Cristiano Ronaldo unveiled as a new Manchester United signing in 2003.

When Ronaldo arrived at Old Trafford from Sporting CP, he was a fresh-faced winger, full of stepovers. In his six years under Sir Alex Ferguson, Ronaldo won eight major honours, including three Premier League titles and the Champions League, before leaving to become Real Madrid ’s all-time top goal scorer.

The Portuguese icon returned to his old club in 2021 but failed to galvanise a struggling United side. Ronaldo’s contract was cancelled the following October after criticising manager Erik ten Hag, paving the way for his move to Al-Nassr. However, back in 2003, there was a sliding doors moment that could have reshaped Ronaldo’s entire career.

Liverpool believed they had agreed a £4million deal to sign a teenage Ronaldo from Sporting. Former assistant coach Phil Thompson recalled going to dinner with Ronaldo’s agent in Lisbon to iron out the details, only for the forward to join the Reds’ bitter rivals.

“I can still remember Tony's exact words. It was all very nice and relaxed,” Thompson told The Athletic. “It's £4 million and it can be paid over the four years of his contract, so £1 million a year. That seemed very reasonable. Then I asked about the salary and Tony told me it was £1 million a year, net.”

Thompson had some reservations about Ronaldo’s wage demands, but the winger had a growing reputation, with Liverpool already fighting off the likes of Barcelona, Juventus and Arsenal for his signature. While personal terms still needed to be finalised, Thompson left Lisbon believing the club had a deal in place, only to be shocked a few months later.

“On the Tuesday morning, we were having lunch at the training ground and it came up on the yellow strap on Sky Sports, ‘Manchester United have signed Cristiano Ronaldo for £12.2 million,” Thompson recalled.

“Gerard and myself almost choked on our food. I can remember Gerard jumping up and saying, ‘What the hell has gone on there?’".

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Image: Phil Cole/Getty Images) Phil Cole/Getty Images) Image: John Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images) John Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)

United may have trebled what Liverpool were ready to pay, but it ultimately proved to be a bargain for the club, who later sold Ronaldo for a world-record £80m in 2009. Liverpool boss Houllier had done his due diligence and watched Ronaldo closely as Portugal won the Toulon Tournament in June, two months before he signed for Liverpool’s old foes.

The Reds would later achieve Champions League glory under Rafa Benitez, and signing Ronaldo may have helped end the club’s 30-year league title drought sooner. However, it was his dazzling display against United in a pre-season friendly that ultimately convinced Ferguson to gazump their rivals - and Ronaldo seemingly has no regrets about his decision.

On his time working with Ferguson, Ronaldo said in 2021: “I'm always saying it, but he was like a father figure to me in football. I appreciate everything he did for me, my family and especially for the club. He did an amazing job.”

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