Former Barcelona president: Ronaldo almost joined club in 2003

If it wasn't for a difference of a measly €2 million, there could have been a scenario where Cristiano Ronaldo lined up alongside Lionel Messi in a Barcelona top.

Former Barcelona president Joan Laporta says the Catalans came close to signing Ronaldo from Sporting Lisbon before the Portuguese international joined Manchester United in 2003.

Laporta explained he was eager to revamp the squad upon being elected president. After signing a trio of players that included Brazilian star Ronaldinho, however, Barca apparently came up short in its pursuit of the eventual three-time World Football Player of the Year.

"We had signed Ronaldinho, (Rafael) Marquez, and (Ricardo) Quaresma," Laporta said during an interview with Marca, as translated by Samuel Marsden of ESPNFC.

"We were in a process of reconstruction throughout the whole club. (Ronaldo) was at Sporting at the time, before Manchester United, and we were speaking with his agent, who wanted to sell us Deco.

"We said that we couldn't because we weren't able to (spend that much at the time), so he told us he had another really good kid.

"It was Ronaldo. He had a deal with United for €19 million, but we were offered him for €17M."

Although Barca missed out on Ronaldo, the club did eventually bring Deco to the Camp Nou from FC Porto in 2004.

Laporta added that he has no regrets after failing to sign Ronaldo since Barcelona already had an Argentine superstar waiting in the wings.

"I think (Messi) is the best player in the history of football," he said as Barca prepares for the season's first El Clasico on Saturday.

"There are others with great quality, but Leo is above the rest. He has natural talent, goals, he's a leader ... he has it all. And on top of that, he's humble with it."