But for the financial collapse of the club’s parent company in 2003, Cristiano Ronaldo could have ended up in Serie A much sooner by joining Parma.
That summer, as an 18-year-old, the Portuguese attacker was a wanted man on the market but the Italian side were a step away from his signature after agreeing a €12.5 million deal with Sporting CP.
However, Calisto Tanzi blocked the negotiation when the €22.5m from the sale of Adrian Mutu to Chelsea had to pass instead immediately into the company’s coffers to write off a hole that would soon become a great chasm.
“I remember the enthusiasm of sporting director Doriano Tosi when president Tanzi asked me for my opinion and I immediately told him that the deal had to be done,” former coach Cesare Prandelli recalled.
“At the time, there was no clear trace of what would happen but the fact is simply that perhaps the president preferred not to spend the money but I remember Tosi’s excitement about it very well.
“It was an enthusiasm that rubbed off on everyone. He came into the dressing room and told me that he was about to complete the deal and I trusted that it would happen.”
However, after Tanzi refused to pay the fee at the final moment, Ronaldo soon sealed a move to Manchester United after impressing against Alex Ferguson’s side in a pre-season friendly.
“We didn’t manage to close out the deal and that’s how it ended up,” Prandelli lamented. “Are there any regrets? No, but every time I watch him play and score…”
Source: forzaitalianfootball.com