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Cristiano Ronaldo admits he 'could have played for Barcelona' before Man United move

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates a goal for Al Nassr
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates a goal for Al NassrNoushad Thekkayil/NurPhoto/Shutt / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia
He will celebrate his 40th birthday on Wednesday. However, even his old age has not stopped him from scoring goals. Cristiano Ronaldo has already scored 23 competitive goals for Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr this season, adding five more in the Nations League with Portugal.

Logically, he is not lacking in confidence, as he confirmed in an interview with Spanish TV show La Sexta.

"I believe I am the best player in football history, no one has been better," said the owner of six Ballon d'Ors, who also admitted that he could have played for Barcelona.

"The numbers say I am the most complete footballer that has ever existed. People can like Messi, Maradona, Pele... and I respect that, yes, but I am the most complex and the numbers say that," stated a confident Ronaldo.

"In the history of football, I haven't seen anyone better than me. I tell the truth from the heart," the Portuguese, who has netted an incredible 923 competitive goals in his career, added on La Sexta.

Ronaldo also listed his strengths. "I'm fast, strong, I score goals with my head or my left foot, no one has ever been more complete than me. I am the best player in history. I really believe that."

The now Al Nassr striker, who has also donned the jerseys of Sporting, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus during his prolific career, also admitted that he could have headed to Barcelona before moving to England.

"I could have played for Barca. They tried to get me when I was at Sporting. They wanted me, but a year later Manchester United came along."

It was Barcelona, whose colours were defended by his lifelong rival Lionel Messi, who were his biggest rival throughout his career. But in his own words, Ronaldo enjoyed the matches against the Blaugranas. "I loved playing at the Camp Nou. They booed me, they insulted me and I loved it!"

In a wide-ranging interview, the owner of six Ballon d'Ors also commented on the recent announcement of the prestigious winner. 

"Vini (Vinicius Junior) deserved to win the Ballon d'Or, but I'm not surprised... it lacks credibility," Ronaldo said, before adding words of praise for the Brazilian: "He won the Champions League and scored goals."

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