Manchester United were the most envied club in world football back then, and Cristiano Ronaldo’s game reached new heights at Old Trafford, where he established himself as the best player in the world under Sir Alex Ferguson.
While Roy Keane was club captain when Ronaldo joined the club in 2003, Ryan Giggs was the one who reacted angrily at the Portuguese superstar at the breakfast table one day.
Speaking to journalist Jan Aage Fjortoft in 2016, former Manchester United player and current manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer shed light on the incident.
While Cristiano Ronaldo was the most talented player in world football at the time, Giggs’ professionalism was the gold standard, and the Welshman didn’t hesitate to make his feelings felt.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s reality check
However, as time went by, Cristiano Ronaldo realized the harsh realities of the Premier League and took conscious efforts to look after his body and diet. Additionally, the Portuguese international was also accused of play-acting and complaining when he didn’t get a decision.
This particular trait of Ronaldo did not go unnoticed, as Sir Alex Ferguson showed him some tough love to get to teach the attacker a valuable lesson.
Former Red Devils coach Tony Coton revealed that the boss’ methods worked wonders with Cristiano Ronaldo, as members of the coaching staff were advised to turn a blind eye to Ronaldo’s theatrics.
Sir Alex’s master plan worked wonders for Cristiano Ronaldo, who toughened up progressively in his time in the Premier League.
Speaking about his former teammate to Goal in 2019, Rio Ferdinand hailed the Portuguese international’s professionalism and attention to detail.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s steady progression as an athlete has helped with the longevity of his career, as he is still going strong at the age of 35.
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