West Ham United co-owner David Sullivan has reveled they were close to signing Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo for Birmingham City. Sullivan, speaking to Sky Sports show Soccer AM, explained that the club had bid £6million for the Sporting Lisbon starlet in 2003 but instead he chose to sign for Manchester United.

"Before he went to Man United, we were offered him for £6million, and he chose United ahead of us," Sullivan said.

"There was a deal to be done. When he first went to United t here were lots of doubts about him. He wasn't the star that he is now."