Cristiano Ronaldo was offered to Barcelona in 2009 after Perez thought he was too expensive

Real Madrid President Florentino Perez had almost broken the deal for Cristiano Ronaldo’s transfer from Manchester United.

Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has made a major revelation during an interview with Sky Sports where he spoke candidly about Cristiano Ronaldo’s transfer to Real Madrid in 2009.

Calderon, who was at the helms of the club before current President Florentino Perez succeeded him, revealed that Cristiano Ronaldo was not wanted by Perez who was close to breaking all the negotiation because of the hefty price of €94 million that Manchester United were demanding.

“When Florentino became president and came to the club, he wanted to break [negotiations]. He thought it was very expensive,” Calderon said. “He knew he was a good player but thought he wasn’t worth that amount of money. That was a problem he had at the beginning with Cristiano, who knew that.”

Manchester United didn’t want to sell Ronaldo

Despite the price-tag, Manchester United and their manager Sir Alex Ferguson were not very keen on the idea of selling their brightest asset to Real Madrid

“It was a tough moment. In the time that we were negotiating that contract I spoke to [former Manchester United chief executive] David Gill about selling the player but he said ‘no’,” he adds. “They said ‘we are not selling Cristiano, we don’t want him to go’ which is normal. But the player wanted to leave.”

“We were negotiating for two years,” he continued. “Ferguson is obsessed with Real Madrid, he doesn’t like us very much. He said ‘no, Cristiano is going to leave but not to Real Madrid.’"

Cristiano Ronaldo wanted Real Madrid and nothing else

Calderon also spoke about how persistent Ronaldo was to join his dream club.

“He was going to come in 2008-09,” he said. “He phoned me saying ‘president I am so sorry, but I can’t go this year, I have a commitment with Sir Alex Ferguson who is like my father professionally. Don’t worry I’ll go next year’. He negotiated with Manchester United to leave for €94 million.”

Barcelona were also one of the clubs who were being offered the option to sign Cristiano Ronaldo after Fergusons unwillingness to let Ronaldo join Real Madrid.

“They offered him to Barcelona among other clubs. Barcelona said ‘okay, we are prepared to pay what you are asking’. The important thing is that the player said ‘no, Real Madrid or nothing’,” he added. “I’m very proud that he came, very proud what he’s doing. I was there at the moment the transfer could be done, anyone would have done the same.”

Ronaldo eventually signed for Real Madrid, becoming the world’s most expensive player in a deal worth £80 million.

Here is the interview: