Sir Alex Ferguson immediately decided he wanted to sign an 18-year old Cristiano Ronaldo after being impressed with him during Manchester United’s 3-1 defeat to Sporting Lisbon in 2003.
So much was Ferguson confident in the abilities of his new signing that he even handed Ronaldo the number 7 shirt, a legendary club number just vacated by David Beckham.
In no time the Portuguese slotted right into the United line-up before going establishing himself as one of most formidable forwards in the Premier League’s and eventually, the world.
Recalling the time the five-time Ballon d’Or winner first arrive at Man United, Darren Fletcher says he was not the most exciting player but hard work and determination helped him polished his skills.
Fletcher told The Lockdown Tactics: “He learned English so quick. He was 18, he did extra training every day, he was the first player to go and get a personal chef.”
“He brought in ankle weights to train in so in a game he felt sharper when he took the ankle weights off.”
“What a guy. He was determined to be the best player in the world. When you see his ability… yeah, he was frustrating in the beginning, he was a young, skinny lad.”
“[But] the dedication and effort he put in, that single-mindedness [allowed him] to go and become the best player in the world.”
