Arsène Wenger has never shied away from the truth, and once again, he has openly acknowledged one of the biggest missed opportunities in Arsenal’s history: failing to sign Cristiano Ronaldo. In a recent interview with Arsenal’s official website, the legendary manager revealed new details behind the transfer that could have dramatically altered the club’s trajectory.
“When it comes to players we missed out on, the first name that comes to mind is Ronaldo,” Wenger said. “There’s no need to go over what happened after — he became a global superstar under Sir Alex Ferguson and ushered in a new era of success at Manchester United, while we at Arsenal gradually declined.”
Wenger admitted that Arsenal had come very close to landing the Portuguese prodigy, but the deal ultimately fell apart due to financial constraints. At the time, the club was operating under significant budget limitations, which severely impacted Wenger’s ability to build a championship-caliber team.
“There are always different ways to get things done, but the art of negotiation is knowing when to stand firm and when to give ground,” he explained. “We had offered £4.5 million and were in advanced talks. It was very close.”
But just as Arsenal edged toward sealing the deal, Manchester United entered the picture. “They raised the bid to £12 million, which was simply out of our reach,” Wenger said. “Ronaldo even visited us with his mother. We were that close. But then United played against Sporting Lisbon, and Ronaldo put on a dazzling performance. That was it. United made their move, and he never looked back.”
According to Crickex App, this isn’t the first time Wenger has spoken about missing out on Ronaldo, but his recent comments shed light on the tough realities of managing a club with financial limitations, especially during critical rebuilding years.
“You can only imagine what it would’ve been like to pair Thierry Henry with Cristiano Ronaldo,” Wenger reflected. “That partnership could have changed the course of my career at Arsenal.”
As the saying goes, “hindsight is 20/20.” And while Wenger built one of the most admired teams in Premier League history, fans can’t help but wonder how different things might have been had Ronaldo worn the red and white of Arsenal.