Napoli sporting director confirms they were offered Cristiano Ronaldo | OneFootball

Cristiano Giuntoli has revealed that Napoli had the chance to sign Cristiano Ronaldo last summer.

Ronaldo joined Juventus from Real Madrid in July in a sensational deal worth a reported €117m and has since scored 15 times in 24 appearances for the club.

But it seems the Portuguese superstar would also have been open to the possibility of joining one of the Bianconeri’s rivals.

“It was proposed to us,” Napoli sporting director Giuntoli told Sky Italy.

“We have a great relationship with [Ronaldo’s agent] Jorge Mendes since the days of Faouzi Ghoulam and his contract renewal.

“We have constant relationships, we often speak and it was proposed.”

But unfortunately, the Partonopei quickly realised they wouldn’t be able to afford the 33-year-old.

“For us, however, it was a little out of reach,” added Giuntoli.

“He [Mendes] spoke to both the president and me. I was a little silent.

“Then, when we went into detail, we realised that for us it was an operation out of reach.”

Ronaldo’s Juventus are currently 11 points clear of Napoli in the race for the Scudetto and it would seem Carlo Ancelotti’s side have little chance of catching the defending champions.

But Giuntoli has been in a similar situation before. In 2013, he was sporting director of Carpi when they overcame Lecce to win promotion to Serie B.

“For me Juve is the best team in Europe at the moment, being first would be a dream,” he said.

“But if I made it with Lecce in Serie B, I think I can do it against Juve.”