Cristiano Ronaldo to Sporting transfer ‘never existed’ says club chief lifts lid on emotional reunion with Man Utd star

SPORTING LISBON chief Frederico Varandas has denied his club ever considered signing Cristiano Ronaldo.

Reports suggested the Portuguese outfit wanted to sign their former star in the summer.

And Sporting have once again been linked to Ronaldo following his explosive tell-all interview with SunSport columnist Piers Morgan.

But club president Varandas claimed he and other Sporting bosses have never discussed making a move for the Manchester United striker.

He told : "He will always be the reference of Sporting's academy and the best Portuguese player ever.

"There are several ways to be at Sporting stadium.

"Now, I'm not going to make noise. If Ruben Amorim vetoed the return? Of course not. It was never even a topic or was on the table.

"There was never a conversation with me, with Hugo Viana or Amorim. This topic never existed. I know it sells a lot in the press."

But Hugo Viana was reported to be working on a deal to bring Ronaldo back to the club he left in 2003.

And the sporting director refused to rule out a transfer.

He said: "Not now, I don’t think that will be possible.

"But we never know. He can decide where he can go. But you never know the future.

"I don’t want to talk a lot about that because when we speak about Cristiano it is quite different.

"I think he has one more year on his contract, so whatever he decides, let’s see."