"In summer 2003, Mendes was trying to find a team for his first top player: Cristiano Ronaldo. The 18-year-old kid had just made his debut for Sporting Lisbon and Mendes wanted to bring him to Italy," Moggi told 'TuttoSport'.
Ronaldo's services were offered to several teams, however unsuccessfully. "At Gea [Moggi's representation agency] we tried to help him. We offered him to Parma and Lazio but he was rejected by both. He was talented but too young and they did not want to risk it," he explained.
"Juventus, on the other hand, did accept and they sent us to Lisbon alongside Mendes to seal the transfer with Sporting," he added. It seemed a done deal.
But then the figure of Ferguson emerged, not Sir Alex, but his son Jason Ferguson. He was the one who negotiated the £12 million deal with Sporting Lisbon for Ronaldo to make the switch to Old Trafford.
"That transfer could have changed the history of European football. I thought about it a million times when I was in Lisbon. Judging by his attitude and what he is like he could still be a 'bianconero'," Moggi concluded.