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'I brought Ronaldo to Italy to sign' - Di Marzio explains how Juventus missed out on Madrid star

The Ballon d'Or holder was close to joining the Serie A champions at just 17 years old, but the deal fell through as Marcelo Diaz refused to leave

Cristiano Ronaldo's big breakthrough at the top level of European football could have come at Juventus instead of Manchester United had a move not been derailed by a player who made just nine Serie A starts for the Italians.

The Portugal international joined the Red Devils from Sporting in 2003 and spent six years at Old Trafford before going on to join Real Madrid for a then-world record fee of €94 million.