Former Barcelona president Joan Laporta has revealed they turned down the chance to sign Cristiano Ronaldo. Laporta says the Real Madrid star was offered to Barca by agent Jorge Mendes while still with Sporting Lisbon - and for less money than what he signed for with Manchester United.

"Mendes offered him to us, even cheaper than he went to Manchester for.

"We would have bought him, but at that time we had no economic projection after signing Ronaldinho, Marquez and Quaresma."