Former Birmingham City owner David Sullivan has revealed that the club could have signed Cristiano Ronaldo before he joined Manchester United in 2003.

The Portuguese international spent six years at United, winning the Champions League and three Premier League titles before signing for current club Real Madrid in 2009.

Sullivan says that Ronaldo was offered to Birmingham for £6m before he opted to sign for the Red Devils.

"Before he went to Man United, we were offered him for £6 million, and he chose United ahead of us," Sullivan told Sky Sports News.

"There was a deal to be done. When he first went to United there were lots of doubts about him. He wasn't the star that he is now."

Ronaldo joined United from Sporting Lisbon for £12.24m.