Premier League - Ronaldo hails Fergie impact

Eurosport - Sat, 04 Jul 16:31:00 2009

Cristiano Ronaldo admits he will always hold a special place in his heart for his former manager at Manchester United Sir Alex Ferguson.

FOOTBALL Manchester United's manager Sir Alex Ferguson and Cristiano Ronaldo - 0

Speaking ahead of his official presentation as a Real Madrid player on Monday following his world-record £80 million move from United, Ronaldo was keen to hail the impact Ferguson has had on his career.

"He's been my father in sport, one of the most important factors and most influential in my career," Ronaldo said in an interview with Spanish newspaper Marca on Saturday.

Ferguson splashed out £12.24million to bring the teenage Ronaldo to United from Sporting Lisbon in 2003 and in six years under the Scot's tutelage, the Portugal international has developed into one of the best players on the planet.

Ronaldo severed his ties with United this summer to complete his move to Madrid, but the 24-year-old admits he will never forget what Ferguson did for him.

He added: "I have to thank him for all that he taught me. He's been fundamental. I'll always have great affection for him and he will occupy a special place in my heart.

"I'll also keep a very special memory of (United chief executive) David Gill and all the directors at United."

Ronaldo, who revealed he would be travelling to Manchester in the coming days to say his farewells to Ferguson in person, also had a message of thanks for his former fans at United.

"It was my home. I played there six seasons and I was always well liked by the United fans," he added.

"We won many things together. They always sang my song in the stands and I have to thank them for the affection they showed me during all the time that I played at Old Trafford. The fans of Manchester (United) are special."

PA Sport

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  1. THE NEXT CHALLANGE SHOULD HAVE BEEN STILL PLAYING IN­ PREMIER LEAGUE AND CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WITH MANCHESTER­ UNITED!! WHERE WAS YOUR LOYALTY?. PERSONALLY I­ DON'T THINK YOU WILL BE MISSED AT ALL AS FAR AS­ MANCHESTER UNITED ARE CONCERNED AS WE ALL KNOW UTD WILL­ MOVE ON AS ALWAYS AND CONTINUE TO PLAY FOOTBALL AND WIN­ TROPHIES!! THAT IS FOR ALL TO SEE

    From roy.mcevoy, on Mon 6 Jul 6:18PM

  2. that is sooooo sweet of cristiano,i aswell will keep a­ special place in my heart 4 him,he makes me cry!!!!!!!

    From Gabriella, on Mon 6 Jul 4:26PM

  3. dagringo = mangy inbred mutt who needs putting­ down

    end of.

    From pegez, on Mon 6 Jul 4:20PM

  4. If I was Fergie I'd be out when he turns up. And I­ hope the Man U fans give him the welcome the two faced­ git deserves when he turns up at Old Trafford.

    From boxster, on Mon 6 Jul 2:40PM

  5. If Ronaldo would have stayed at united fans would all­ be going on about him being the best player in the­ world still and when any other fan said what i obvious­ that he is a prat you would all defend him and say he­ is brilliant and we are all just jealous that he isnt­ in our team.
    Now he is gone he is being called­ everything under the sun and everyone is saying Messi­ is alot better?
    Is this not the complete reverse of­ Owen?
    As a Liverpool fan i would never want the little­ judas back at our club after what he did to be aloud to­ go to Real Madrid a few years ago so Owen to most­ Liverpool fans is no more loved than Ronaldo is now to­ United fans, so why do so many of you idiots think we­ would care that he plays for you now.
    Owen also said­ to the press that if we wanted him back he would have­ been a Liverpool but Rafa didnt coz we dont have­ trouble makers in the squad.

    From Daniel, on Mon 6 Jul 9:59AM

  6. I BET HE DIDNT SAY GOOD BYE TO FERGIE IN PERSON

    From Holiday, on Mon 6 Jul 8:29AM

  7. Compared to Charlton Law,Best , Robson and Giggs, Gary­ Neville Pauls Scholes Wes brown, and a host of other­ players who have dedicated their careers to United,­ Ronaldo is a loyalty deprived prat. If he wanted­ another challenge as he says, whats wrong with the­ European Cup with United next season, or another league­ title!!. Lets be honest and open about this, he fancied­ warm weather, loads of money and a free reign without­ Sir Alex watching him, he's already had a night­ with Paris Hilton and kicked some teenagers camera into­ touch, he's only been sign a week!! for God's­ sake. He is already on a slippery slope to oblivion.­ Back in 1985 Bryan Robson was offerred a million to­ sign for AC Milan, he turned them down because of his­ loyalty to United, Ryan has been targeted half a dozen­ times by Inter and never been tempted, . Ronaldo was­ always leaving, it just took too long for his­ liking.
    Now we move on, new faces old faces and always­ in Red shirts.
    Glory Glory Man United

    From michael, on Sun 5 Jul 11:49PM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    RM + KAKA + CR9 + ALBIOL + BENZEMA + RIBERY (SOON) =­ LOS GALACTICOS

    MANURE + OWEN + VALENCIA = L O S C R A­ P T I C O S.

    End of story...

    From DaGringo, on Sun 5 Jul 11:39PM

  9. Ronaldo has taken a step backwards in his career, and­ owen a giant leap forward

    From red7ant, on Sun 5 Jul 10:45PM

  10. The biggest legend at United Is the Late Duncan­ Edwards.Died in the Munich Air Disaster.My Dad so him­ play.He supported Burnley.Said to me better than Tom­ Finney,Stanley Mathews,He died as a young man.Always­ wanted to see him.But sadly lost his life after 21 days­ in a Munich Hospital after the crash.Yes a England­ STALWART as well.If spared in the Munich Disaster i am­ sure he would have lifted a 1966 world medal.

    From anthony, on Sun 5 Jul 9:42PM

  11. forgive my ignorance,but has Liverpool got a Catalan­ community,on a recent visit to the 5hithole of a place,­ all i could see was people if thats what they are­ called,wearing fake Barcelona shirts

    From LES, on Sun 5 Jul 4:06PM

  12. one of the best players on the planet? he's the­ best..

    From dots d, on Sun 5 Jul 3:51PM

  13. In the end you couldn't have expected him to play­ at United forever. He's made no secret that his­ dream was always to play for RM one day. He did give­ United 6 good years, even if he was a BIG @#$%­ sometimes. Let him go. Ferguson will make more star­ players, soon.

    From the_rogue_unknown, on Sun 5 Jul 2:27PM

  14. "one of the best player on the planet"? PUI!

    From G&T, on Sun 5 Jul 1:49PM

  15. Posting 31. ??????? Interpreter please.

    From JOHN I, on Sun 5 Jul 1:17PM

  16. Why does the River Mersey run through­ Liverpool?
    Because if it walked it would be mugged.

    From reddevils_4life99, on Sun 5 Jul 12:11PM

  17. BARCELON IS EITHER BARCELONA FAN OR LIVERFOOL FAN
    IF­ YOUR BARCELONA FAN HOW DOES IT FEEL THAT EVEN AFTER YOU­ WIN A TREBLE PLAYERS WOULD RARTHER JOIN MADRID
    IF YOUR­ LIVERFOOL SCUM HOW DOES IT FEEL WATCHING MAN UNITED­ LIFT THE LEAGUE FOR A THIRD YEAR
    GLORY GLORY MAN­ UNITED

    From reddevils_4life99, on Sun 5 Jul 10:58AM

  18. WE RIPPED OUT KOPS HEART
    WE DESTROYED THIER DREAMS
    WE­ KEPT THE LEAGUE WE KEPT THE LEAGUE

    From reddevils_4life99, on Sun 5 Jul 10:56AM

  19. 33...You hit the nail right on the head my­ friend......and thats how he repaid us.

    The club­ didn't just bulid around him...they taught him how­ to play football....any daft @#$% can play keepy up and­ dance over the ball....the school playgrounds are full­ of them

    Never forget ...CR trashed us for a Real­ Madrid.a typical gold digging Amanda Holden.....came­ with nothing but the clothes on his back...once we made­ him ....he fcuked off like a whore

    From phil k, on Sun 5 Jul 10:24AM

  20. In the picture up top, it looks like ronaldo`s enjoying­ whatever fergie`s up to. !!!
    Always thought ronaldo­ was a bit Bi.

    From Bike 69, mabaho ka !, on Sun 5 Jul 8:33AM
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