Sporting CP Lisbon (featuring Cristiano Ronaldo) v Manchester United (2003) Pre-season friendly between Sporting Clube de Portugal (Lisbon) and Manchester United from 6 August 2003 on the occasion of the inauguration of the Estádio José Alvalade XXI.
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Ferguson added: "When we saw him [Cristiano Ronaldo] play in a pre-season friendly for Sporting against us, at half-time I knew we had to get him and I said to [then chief executive] Peter Kenyon, 'We are not leaving the stadium until we get the boy'. I think he is the best player in the world and his season has been incredible."