Former Napoli coach Giovanni di Marzio has recalled how he had Cristiano Ronaldo set up to sign for Juventus as a teen.

Juve were all set to snap up their current striker ahead of Manchester United, but Marcelo Salas refused to be part of the deal which would've taken him to Sporting CP in part exchange.

Di Marzio told AS: "I discovered him. He hardly had three games for Sporting, I worked for Juve, (Luciano) Moggi asked me to go see (Ricardo) Quaresma and, instead, I noticed Ronaldo.

"I wrote that he was going to be one of the best in the world."

Di Marzio added: "I took him to Turin for a medical examination, but the operation did not close because Salas did not accept the negotiations, he wanted to return to South America."