Former Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi has said he would not have signed Cristiano Ronaldo had he still been in charge.
The Bianconeribroke their transfer record to land Ronaldo for €100 millionthis summer, but Moggi insists he would never have spent so much on a 33-year-old. He also questioned the club’s decision to sell Gonzalo Higuain, who joined AC Milan on a season-long loan with a clause which could see the move become permanent next summer.
“In terms of marketing, it’s a sensational deal,” Moggi told Il Corriere dello Sport. “But I would never have spent such a high fee on a 33-year-old — and I would certainly not have announced it before selling Higuain, someone who scores 20 goals a season.”‘
Moggi, who was at the club from 1994 to 2006, also recalled how he actually “signed” Ronaldo in 2003, just before his move to Manchester United — only for the deal to fall through because striker Marcelo Salas refused to join Sporting Lisbon and then cash-strapped Juventus were unable to pay a higher fee.
“I actually signed Cristiano Ronaldo,” he added. “He was 18 and he played for Sporting Lisbon.
“I saw him and the next morning I signed the contract for 5 billion lire (£2.3m) plus our Salas, who would have received a 1b lire (£470,000) loyalty bonus.
“But then Salas preferred River Plate and Manchester United came in for Ronaldo.
“At the time, Juve were in a real crisis. We didn’t have a penny.”