Saka has been FAILED! Arsenal didn't protect their 'Starboy'

Top 10 Premier League signings of the season so far - ranked

Six Man Utd stars who should be on Amorim's naughty list

Salah reigns at Xmas as Liverpool trio send message to FSG

I miss Sam Kerr

Greenwood gets Fernandes support after latest Marseille strike

Mbappe handed new nickname at Real Madrid after Sevilla stunner

'Every coach's dream' - Guardiola tipped for sensational Madrid move

Argentina icon snubs Messi for ‘limited’ CR7 in GOAT debate

Amorim wants new Cristiano Ronaldo in Man Utd scouting overhaul

Why Ten Hag thought Antony was 'better player' than Amad

<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Ferguson brought Ronaldo to United in 2003</li><li>Portuguese was known for his showboating</li><li>Manager put him in his place</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

'Who do you think you are?!' - Cristiano Ronaldo reduced to tears at Man Utd after being 'ripped into' by Sir Alex Ferguson as Rio Ferdinand recalls shocking dressing room incident

Premier League

Wolverhampton

Manchester United

Saudi Pro League

Al Nassr FC

Al Akhdoud

<p>The legendary Scottish manager signed Ronaldo in 2003, bringing the 18-year-old winger to Old Trafford, where he rapidly rose to stardom. Under Ferguson’s mentorship, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/who-said-messi-s-better-than-me-cristiano-ronaldo-reacts-to-taunt-al-nassr-star-penalty-challenge-mrbeast/bltd75f1c617774a798" target="_blank">Ronaldo secured his first Ballon d’Or,</a> alongside three Premier League titles, a Champions League trophy, an FA Cup, and two League Cups. However, the journey to greatness was not without its challenges, as Ferdinand explained how Ferguson’s tough love pushed Ronaldo<a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/cristiano-ronaldo-meets-santa-claus-portuguese-superstar-awkward-family-father-christmas-cringe-worthy-singalong/bltd680f337dca0ff05" target="_blank"> to evolve into a global icon.</a></p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Ferdinand revealed an incident which occurred during a pre-season trip to Portugal, where United played a series of friendlies. Ronaldo, eager to justify the hype surrounding his arrival, started showboating, which did not go unnoticed by Ferguson. The manager came down heavily on Ronaldo for prioritising flair over effectiveness even when his team were struggling to get a foothold in matches.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>In an interview with <a href="https://x.com/BBCSport/status/1871465840371011788">BBC Sport</a>&nbsp;as part of a documentary entitled 'Sir Alex', which will be aired by the UK broadcaster on December 26, former United defender Ferdinand said: "We'd been to Portugal and played a couple of games, and he hadn't played well, Cristiano, because he was young, he tried too hard. I remember we played Benfica, and the manager ripped into Cristiano. 'Who d'you think you are? You're coming in here trying to prove to everybody who you think you are, you think you're a superstar'. And I remember Cristiano in tears in the changing room. And I was like, 'This manager doesn't care, man. He doesn't care who you are.'"</p>

WHAT FERDINAND SAID

<p>Ferguson’s brilliance in man-management lay in his ability to balance discipline with encouragement. While he could be nurturing, he also knew when to apply pressure to extract the best from his players. By the time Ronaldo left Manchester United for Real Madrid in 2009 for a then-world-record fee of £80 million, he had firmly established himself as one of the best players on the planet. Ferdinand credits Ferguson’s uncompromising approach as a significant factor in Ronaldo’s evolution into the five-time Ballon d’Or winner we know today.</p><p>"But then look at the player that he became," he said. "He needed moments like that. And the manager knew that he could be soft and nice with him, but he had to be hard as well to get him to where he got to — the world's best player when he left."</p><p></p><p></p>

DID YOU KNOW?

<p>Having now transitioned to Saudi outfit Al-Nassr, Ronaldo continues to chase the elusive <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/cristiano-ronaldo-s-dream-job-al-nassr-superstar-tipped-to-only-make-move-into-management-for-one-va/bltecb3449448f43493" target="_blank">milestone of 1,000 career goals</a>. He will be back in action on January 9, with a match against Al-Akhdoud scheduled in the Saudi Pro League.</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR CRISTIANO RONALDO?

'Who do you think you are?!' - Cristiano Ronaldo reduced to tears at Man Utd after being 'ripped into' by Sir Alex Ferguson as Rio Ferdinand recalls shocking dressing room incident | Goal.com

Cristiano Ronaldo was reduced to tears at Manchester United after being &quot;ripped into&quot; by Sir Alex Ferguson in a shocking dressing room incident.

&apos;Who do you think you are?!&apos; - Cristiano Ronaldo reduced to tears at Man Utd after being &apos;ripped into&apos; by Sir Alex Ferguson as Rio Ferdinand recalls shocking dressing room incident