Cristiano Ronaldo (right) was signed by Manchester United in 2003 from Sporting Lisbon

Real Madrid manager Rafael Benitez has revealed that he tried to sign Cristiano Ronaldo during his time in charge of former club Valencia.

Benitez managed the Mestalla club for three years between 2001 and 2004, winning La Liga twice and the UEFA Cup.

Ronaldo, who is now under Benitez’s stewardship at Real, was at Sporting Lisbon until 2003, when he signed for Manchester United.

The Portuguese forward’s new boss has now revealed that he was unsuccessful in his attempt to sign the then-teenage forward.

“We tried to sign him (Ronaldo) when I was at Valencia,” he is quoted as saying in AS. “We liked him but we could not do it.

"He was always a problem for me when he was at United. Now he is more complete and it is seen in his progression. He is one of the best in the world.”