What if: Arsene Wenger had joined Manchester United instead of Arsenal

#5 Ronaldo would have gone to Barcelona

Under Wenger, Ronaldo would have developed into a different player

Even without Ferguson at the helm, Ronaldo would still have joined Manchester United. Arsenal were interested as well, but they did not have sufficient funds. “With the construction of their stadium, they were left with very little money and it wasn’t possible,” said Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes years later.

Under Wenger, Ronaldo would have developed into a different player. While Ferguson developed Ronaldo into a counter attacking beast, Ronaldo under Wenger would have been a completely different prospect altogether. Schooled in the Arsene way, Ronaldo would have specialised in one-two-ones, breaking midfield lines with timely runs and creating overloads on the wing. The effect would have been similar to Sanchez at Arsenal currently; a direct player in an Arsene team.

Over the years, Barcelona have made a habit of signing Wenger’s players. Overmars, Henry, Fabregas, Song...it is clear the similarity in style of play has had a huge role.

After a few years of development in the Premier League, then, it would be the Catalan club that would have come calling instead of Real. Football history as we know it would have turned on its head; Ronaldo and Messi alongside each other instead of being rivals, with them picking up invaluable skills from each other but missing out on the edge of the rivalry that pushed them to get better.

In any case, that would have been one fearsome Barcelona team under Guardiola.