11/11/2016 17:24, Report by Adam Marshall
Former Sporting Lisbon coach Fernando Santos has expressed his regret at selecting Cristiano Ronaldo for the famous friendly with Manchester United in August 2003.
The precocious teenager's performance in the pre-season encounter convinced Sir Alex Ferguson to make his move to bring him to Manchester.
After selling another hot prospect in Ricardo Quaresma to Barcelona, Santos hoped to keep Ronaldo but the stunning display changed the course of history.
MUTV's cameras exclusively captured the game live at the new Alvalade XXI Stadium and you can relive Ronaldo's skills that night – playing in both of Sporting's kits – by watching the video above above.
"I was his coach when he played against Manchester United," said Santos, now in charge of European champions Portugal, at the Lisbon Web Summit this week.
"I put him in the team and now I regret it. One week before, I had lost Quaresma to Barca. Two days later, it was him off to Manchester United.
"I never expected that, 13 years later, I would be [Euro 2016] champion, alongside both of them, in charge of the national team."
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