Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson admits he almost lost Cristiano Ronaldo to Arsenal.

Fergie said: "Arsene Wenger must have been close, he had him over at Highbury about 25 times!"

Gunners boss Wenger has still not got over the fact he missed out on the Portugal winger, 23, and admitted: "If I was to have a player from Manchester United it would be Ronaldo - because we were so close to getting him.

"We were a just few hundred-thousand pounds away. I was very close."