Cristiano Ronaldo had a hand in Alexis Sanchez's decision to join Manchester United in January, it has been revealed.

The Manchester Evening News says many feel Sanchez's decision to join United was solely about money with the player pocketing a weekly salary in the region of £400,000 a week.

Yet Ronaldo inadvertently played a role in the transfer from Arsenal.

Sanchez reportedly grew up idolising United, who remain England's most successful team despite failing to scale their usual heights in recent years.

And he reportedly idolised Ronaldo, who joined the club from Sporting Lisbon back in 2003.

Ronaldo spent six years at United and Sanchez, apparently, had posters of the Real Madrid star on his bedroom wall.