The story of Barcelona rejected Ronaldo in the summer of 2003 remains a controversial topic in football history. Although Ronaldo became one of the greatest players in the world, Barcelona did not make the decision to recruit him at that time. This decision, revealed by former President Joan Laporta, continues to be an important part of the development story of top-flight football in the 2000s. Let's find out about this issue with Win Tips through the article below!
Why Barcelona rejected Ronaldo
The decision was based on the Ronaldinho deal
Did Barcelona reject Ronaldo? In the summer of 2003, Barcelona were in the midst of a restructuring of their squad under the leadership of President Joan Laporta. At this time, the Catalan club recruited Ronaldinho from Paris Saint-Germain for around €30 million, a major investment that was intended to bring about a change in the style of play and image of the club.
According to Joan Laporta, at that time, the Barcelona board was introduced to Cristiano Ronaldo, who was then playing for Sporting Lisbon. They were informed that Manchester United had reached an agreement with Sporting Lisbon worth €19 million, while Barcelona could own Ronaldo for €17 million. However, Barcelona decided to reject this opportunity because they had already invested in Ronaldinho and wanted to build the squad around him, rather than welcome a young talent who had no experience playing in a major tournament like La Liga.
Barcelona's Choice
Barcelona needed a player who could make an immediate difference. Ronaldinho, with his experience and proven talent at PSG, was seen as a more logical choice. The team was not just looking for a star, but a player who could bring about a major change in style of play. Ronaldinho was expected to lead Barcelona back to the top of European football.
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Ronaldinho and his impact on Barcelona
Ronaldinho: The Soul of Barcelona
Since joining Barcelona in 2003, Ronaldinho has become a key player for the team. During his five years with the club, Ronaldinho helped Barcelona win many important titles, including two La Liga titles (2004/2005, 2005/2006) and a UEFA Champions League title (2005/2006). Ronaldinho was not only an excellent player but also a symbol of the change in Barcelona's playing style. He brought a beautiful, attractive and attractive style of football to the fans.
The impact of Messi
One of the great legacies that Ronaldinho left for Barcelona was the mentoring of Lionel Messi in the early years of his career. Messi, then a promising young talent, was helped and inspired by Ronaldinho. It was Ronaldinho's companionship and support that helped Messi rise and become an important player for the team. When Ronaldinho left in 2008, Messi officially became the successor to the number 10 shirt and led Barcelona to unprecedented success.
The Consequences of Rejecting Ronaldo
Barcelona and the Rise of Messi
Although Barcelona rejected Cristiano Ronaldo, the decision was not a mistake. Ronaldinho helped Barcelona become a strong and attractive team, winning important titles in the first decade of the 21st century. After Ronaldinho's departure, Lionel Messi became a key player and a symbol of Barcelona for nearly two decades.
Messi has brought Barcelona countless titles, including many La Liga titles, Champions Leagues and Ballon d'Ors. However, importantly, Messi is also the one who continues the legacy left by Ronaldinho, creating a powerful Barcelona with a beautiful attacking style of play. Therefore, although Barcelona rejected Ronaldo, the team still has one of the greatest players of all time in Messi.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Success at Manchester United
Cristiano Ronaldo, after rejecting Barcelona, joined Manchester United in the summer of 2003. Here, he quickly proved his talent, becoming one of the best players in the world under the guidance of Sir Alex Ferguson. Ronaldo helped Manchester United win many important titles, including three Premier League titles and one UEFA Champions League title. In particular, in 2008, Ronaldo won the Golden Ball, confirming his position in world football.
Thus, although Barcelona rejected Ronaldo, he still found a big team to develop his career and had great success at Manchester United. This shows that both Ronaldo and Barcelona made the right decisions for themselves, and each side found their own path to success.
In Summary
The story of Barcelona rejected Ronaldo is one of the most unpredictable and controversial situations in football history. This decision not only changed Ronaldo's career path but also affected the development of Barcelona. Although Ronaldo became one of the best players in the world, Barcelona found great success with Ronaldinho and then Messi. This story also reminds us of the difficulty of making decisions at crucial moments, where each choice can bring very different results. Although Barcelona's decision not to pursue Ronaldo left many questions, both Barcelona and Ronaldo have been successful in their own way, and football history continues to be written with the world's greatest stars.
