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Published 11:46 14 Oct 2016 BST
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Speaking on French TV programme '91st Minute', Comolli recalled how - after spotting a 15-year-old Ronaldo at a tournament in Portugal - he alerted a contact of his to the teenager's abilities.
Comolli was working with Arsenal at the time, and - as he recalls - Ronaldo visited Arsenal's training ground on two occasions before money got in the way of a potential move.
"He came twice to the training centre. Nobody knows that. [Literally everyone knows that]. He met Thierry (Henry) who was his idol. And when making the transfer, there was no money," Comolli said.
"Some months later, Manchester United made a partnership with Sporting [and played] a friendly match in Lisbon, [after which] Sir Alex Ferguson said: 'He must go to United'."
Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised at Comolli being so late to the party in sharing this story. After all, this is a man who thought Stewart Downing was still a £20m player in 2011.

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