Arsenal boss Arsene
Wenger has told BBC Sport Cristiano Ronaldo had spent time with the
Gunners before he joined Manchester United in August
2003.
Wenger believes the Portuguese
winger Ronaldo signed for United due to the club's links with
Sporting Lisbon.
Wenger said: "He was here much
earlier - he could tell you that if he wants.
"Manchester United had a
partnership with Sporting Lisbon when United assistant coach Carlos
Queiroz moved and that made it very difficult."
Wenger refused to elaborate
any further when questioned about Ronaldo's time with
Arsenal.
"I don't want to create any
story that isn't needed," the Frenchman told BBC football
correspondent Jonathan Legard.
Ronaldo has been in
sensational form all season, scoring 27 goals as well as setting up
countless others for the Premier League leaders.
Since joining Arsenal in 1996,
Wenger has established an unparallelled reputation for identifying
and buying Europe's finest young players.
