Arsenal wanted Ronaldo

Arsene Wenger admitted today that he was priced out of a move for Manchester United's wonder boy Cristiano Ronaldo.

The 18-year-old Portuguese striker has made a dramatic impact in the Premiership since he was signed for £12.4million from Sporting Lisbon by Sir Alex Ferguson with some of the cash raised through the sales of David Beckham and Juan Sebastian Veron.

Wenger had been alerted to one of the most exciting young talents to emerge from Portugal since Luis Figo.

But because of the harsh financial climate at Highbury he was not able to compete with United, who made Ronaldo the most expensive teenager in British football history when they bought him in August and gave him Beckham's No7 shirt.

Wenger, whose side may come up against the exciting youngster in Sunday's clash with United at Old Trafford, said: "Ronaldo is a great player of the future.

"He has very good pace and co-ordination and we were interested in him as well, but the price was much too high for us."