Wenger: 'Not signing Ronaldo for Arsenal is my biggest regret'

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed that not signing Cristiano Ronaldo when he had the chance is the biggest regret of his managerial career, with the Frenchman admitting that he was ‘so close’ to making the Real Madrid star a Gunner before he joined Manchester United.

Ronaldo had a lot of potential suitors before he left Sporting Lisbon for Old Trafford in 2003, and Wenger conceded that not getting to the Portuguese before his Premier League rivals still eats away at him.

‘My biggest regret, I was so close, to signing Cristiano Ronaldo, and not only did I not get him he signed for Manchester United, so that of course still hurts today,’ the Arsenal boss said.

Wenger also surprisingly suggested that the signing he was most proud of wasn’t Thierry Henry or Dennis Bergkamp, but defender Lauren, who formed part of the legendary ‘Invincibles’ team.

‘I’d never say which player was the best, but I think it’s the signings like Lauren who you spot when nobody else does,’ he said.

‘He was a right midfielder who I played at right back and was one of the invincibles.’