Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly came close to joining Juventus in 2003, but the Bianconeri were unable to complete the deal because Marcelo Salas refused to move to Sporting Lisbon in a swap deal.
Alessandro Moggi, son of former Juventus general director Luciano and president of football management agency GEA World, told Tuttosport's Guido Vaciago (h/t Calciomercato):
"Juventus wanted to sign him, and I travelled to Lisbon with [Ronaldo's agent] Jorge Mendes. The idea was to make a swap deal with Marcelo Salas as Juventus wanted to sell him.