Messi and Ronaldo Link Up at Barcelona Was Close in 2009 but Manchester United Sold Him to Real Madrid Instead

• Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi could've been united in 2009 if Manchester United had succeeded in selling him to Barcelona
• Sir Alex Ferguson had disdain for Real Madrid and contacted Barcelona, but Ronaldo was keen on a move to Madrid, according to reports
• Ronaldo eventually signed for Madrid for a world record fee at that time, ushering in a dominance never witnessed before

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi could've played together if Manchester United sold the Portuguese star to the Catalans in 2009.

Reports reveal that Sir Alex Ferguson believed that Barcelona, managed by Pep Guardiola at that time, was the only team that could afford him.

Ronald eventually joined Real Madrid for £80 million, a world record fee at that time, and ushered in a dominance between him and Messi never seen before in world football.

According to The Sun, Fergie had vowed never to sell his best player to Real Madrid, and the Scot went ahead to contact Barca apparently, but Ronaldo was dead set on joining Los Blancos.

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Barca's line-up of 'death'

Pep's Barca were coming off a treble-winning season, and the addition of Ronaldo to the side would've made them arguably the greatest football team ever assembled.

The frontline would have been Thierry Henry, Messi, Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, a frontline that could have devastated any defence. Still, Barca had Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets in midfield.

Madrid were hell-bent on fighting back against Barca's domination and that summer, they signed Xabi Alonso, Karim Benzema and Ballon d'Or winner Kaka.

The two sides would obliterate Spanish football, going back and forth in the title race in the next few seasons. According to The Guardian, Ferguson said he would never sell Ronaldo to Madrid.

"You don't think we'd get into a contract with that mob, do you? Jesus Christ. I wouldn't sell them a virus."

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For Man United, some would say they never really replaced Ronaldo, who went on to achieve incredible things in Madrid.

Possible replacements for Ronaldo

Sports Brief earlier reported on four players who could replace Ronaldo if he leaves in January.

Napoli's Victor Osimhen, Brentford's Ivan Toney, PSV's Cody Gakpo and AS Roma's Tammy Abraham are prime candidates touted to replace the 37-year-old.

Ronaldo was pushing for a move this past summer but an attractive deal never arrived. However, he is expected to exit Old Trafford once a good deal arises.