Cristiano Ronaldo Once Completed 20 Dribbles In A Single Game

Cristiano Ronaldo once completed 20 dribbles in a single game while playing for Manchester United.

Before Ronaldo was the clinical forward we all know today, he was a traditional winger who bamboozled defenders with his quick feet.

Rather than cutting in, Ronaldo would hug the touchline and beat players for fun before crossing it in and normally nabbing an assist.

Against Benfica in the 2006/2007 season, Ronaldo put on a dribbling masterclass and it could be the first game he truly carried a team.

The Red Devils emerged 1-0 winners and it comes as no surprise Ronaldo grabbed the assist, laying the ball on for Louis Saha.

A troubled summer at the 2006 World Cup three months prior had many wondering if his time at Old Trafford was close to an end. But it couldn't have been any further from the truth.

One team who were interested in signing Ronaldo was La Liga outfit Valencia.

Former sporting director Amedeo Carboni claims a deal had already been agreed between the two clubs.

"We had found the financial resources to get him," Carboni told Il Posticipo. "We had made arrangements with Nike and Coca Cola. Ronaldo at that time was already earning 10 million net a year, a lot for a club like Valencia.

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"Then we reached the stage where Cristiano had argued with Manchester United. In 2006-07 Valencia was experiencing a 'boom', and I had his 'yes' to sign him."

Tensions reached a fever pitch regarding Ronaldo during a quarter final clash against England, when he 'winked' towards the bench after helping get club teammate Wayne Rooney sent off.

A move was something he considered at the time, saying: "I think I should get out of Manchester. The circumstances are not right to keep playing in Manchester. In two or three days, I will decide where to go.

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"I always said I wanted to play in Spain. Nobody stood up for me at Manchester, although I did not do anybody any harm."

But as history shows, it never came to be. Ronaldo and Rooney buried the hatchet and went on to lead Manchester United to three consecutive Premier League titles, as well as a Champions League triumph.

Topics: Football News, Football, Manchester United, Champions League, Benfica, Cristiano Ronaldo

Daniel Marland

Daniel is a journalist for SPORTbible and he has previous experience with Manchester United. He has spoken to some of the biggest names in sport including Rio Ferdinand, Peter Crouch, WWE COO Triple H and WWE legend The Undertaker. May or may not do a decent impression of Jamie Carragher.

@DanMarland_