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There are intriguing shades of that 2003 Cristiano Ronaldo deal in Manchester United’s modern-day pursuit of another whizkid winger. While the story has been exaggerated a little over the years – the Portuguese superstar was already on the Red Devils’ radar before that infamous pre-season game against Sporting Lisbon 21 years ago – it’s fair to say the dazzling performance of a buck-toothed, blonde-tipped Cristiano Ronaldo certainly did his hopes of a move to Manchester United no harm. Only five days passed between a Ronaldo-inspired Sporting beating Manchester United at the newly-opened Estad…

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