Everton ‘decided AGAINST buying Cristiano Ronaldo for £2m in 2002 when he was just 17-years-old’

Everton waived a transfer for 17-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo in 2002 for £2million, as they wanted to place complete confidence in a rising star of their own – Wayne Rooney.

According to ‘Messi vs Ronaldo‘ – a new book – David Moyes’ squad was one of a number of European teams that had the chance to sign the future five-time Ballon d’Or winner, only to decide not to risk a player not yet has been tested.

Ronaldo stayed with Sporting for another year before finally moving to the Premier League, joining Manchester United and embarking on one of the most successful careers in football history.

The book claims that the Portuguese legend was offered to the Toffees for just £2million – a fee unimaginable considering what he has accomplished in the 20 years since.

David Moyes wanted full confidence in 16-year-old Wayne Rooney

But it is difficult to hold on to the decision against Everton as future England captain Rooney is poised to impress Moyes in the coming season, despite his young age.

The 16-year-old attacker was promoted to the senior team that summer and would play 36 games, score eight goals and provide one assist.

Ronaldo, meanwhile, managed a still credible, but not necessarily better, result of five goals and six assists in 31 games.

But as fantastic as Rooney’s breakthrough under Moyes was, he left Goodison Park in 2004 for Old Trafford for £33.3million – where he found a Ronaldo who had arrived the year before.

The two would go on to become one of the most terrifying strike forces Europe had seen to date, together in 205 games and winning a Champions League in 2008 and three consecutive Premier League titles.

While it’s impossible to know exactly how good a youth prospect will turn out to be, it certainly hurts Moyes that he nearly had the chance to pair the two at his club.

Ronaldo signed for Manchester United a year later, where he would win three league titles

But the Toffees weren’t the only side in the division to fail in the pursuit of the Portuguese prodigy.

Newcastle were eager to move and even trained at Arsenal, with vice-chairman David Dein making the trip to Portugal to make an offer.

Add to the list of failed suitors of Juventus, Parma and Lyon and Everton fans are likely to feel much better missing out on one of the greatest players to ever play the game.

But there’s certainly little to stop Toffees from thinking about what could have been.

The Portuguese legend would play 205 United games alongside England’s record scorer