The former Premier League club drooled over Cristiano Ronaldo before Manchester United beat Arsenal and other suitors

Charlton were alongside Manchester United and Arsenal in following Cristiano Ronaldo before his famous move to the Premier League.

Addicks fans have unearthed an old report from 2002 on social media this month, which has been confirmed by talkSPORT, leaving them wondering what could have been.

6

Charlton, who are currently fighting their way out of League One under former Luton manager Nathan Jones, were once part of the Premier League furniture, having been promoted first in 1998 and then again in 2000.

The south Londoners even challenged for the Euros in 2004 under club legend Alan Curbishley. However, they were relegated in 2007 and have been reminiscing about their top-flight days ever since.

But during their time competing with the best of the best, the Addicks were at the same table as some of the biggest clubs in the country when it came to scouting the world's most promising talent.

And unbeknownst to most fans, that included the search for Ronaldo.

Fast forward to 2002 and the Portuguese striker was a clumsy teenager playing for Sporting Lisbon and representing his country at under-21 level.

But despite being at the start of what would become one of the most successful football careers in the history of the sport, Ronaldo's skills caught the attention of football's giants.

That, of course, included his future club. Manchester United.

However, Mr Alex Ferguson and company had potential competition on their hands, and it wasn't just from Premier League rivals. Arsenal.

Instead, it was the Gunners' London rivals Charlton who were on hand to see Ronaldo in action for Portugal's Under-21s against Greece in November 2002.

At the time, Sky Sports reported that Manchester United were willing to use a proposed new partnership with Sporting to try and lure Ronaldo and his other impressive winger and fellow Portugal star, Ricardo Quaresma, to Old Trafford.

6

6

But they also claimed the Addicks, who finished 12th in the Premier League that season, had also seen the duo in action against Greece and in Sporting's game against Moreirense.

The performances of Ronaldo and Quaresma had Charlton scouts drooling, according to the report.

Addicks foreign coordinator Jeff Vetere, a former Luton youth player who later worked for real Madridthe representative was present.

Scouts from Celta Vigo, Chievo, Lens, Parma and Feyenoord were also present.

However, the objectives identified by Charlton in that game were unclear.

After all, the Addicks were competing with a club that had won four of the last five Premier League titles.

Former loanee Jorge Costa played in defence for Porto but has not been linked with a return to The Valley.

However, the Addicks, who have a track record of nurturing and developing youngsters, are likely to have been impressed by Ronaldo and his team-mate.

Arsenal had been keeping a close eye on the Portuguese winger and looked set to sign the then 18-year-old in the summer of 2003.

Arsene Wenger was keen to complete the signing, as was former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein.

However, Ronaldo signed for rivals Manchester United in August 2003.

6

“We have been negotiating for Cristiano for quite some time,” Ferguson said at the time, according to 90 minutes“But the interest from other clubs in him has accelerated in recent weeks, so we had to act quickly to sign him.”

Ronaldo spent two spells with Manchester United, making a total of 346 appearances, scoring 145 goals and providing 64 assists.

He won three Premier League titles, a Champions League, an FA Cup, two League Cups, a Club World Cup and a Community Shield in his first spell with the Red Devils.

Ronaldo played against Arsenal and Charlton numerous times in that period, scoring nine goals against the Gunners in his career and one against the Addicks.

6

The Madeira-born star was sold to Spanish club Real Madrid in 2009 for a world record transfer fee of £80m.

He has won five Champions Leagues, two Spanish titles, two Serie A titles with Juventus and has collected five Ballon d'Ors among his 33 trophies in total.

Ronaldo, now 39, is in the final stages of his career with Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr.

What would Charlton fans have been like, eh?