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Cristiano Ronaldo: Man Utd hero reveals surprise treatment Sir Alex Ferguson gave Juve ace
CRISTIANO RONALDO received preferential treatment from Sir Alex Ferguson during his time at Manchester United, his former team-mate Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer has claimed.
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Solskjaer played alongside the Portugal international for four years before hanging up his boots in 2007.
The pair won the FA Cup and Premier League titles together, lifting the trophies in 2004 and 2007 respectively.
And according to Solsjkaer, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner was repeatedly told by Fergie to ignore his defensive duties.
"He was the only one who Sir Alex said: 'OK, only worry about attacking, do not think about defending,’” the Norwegian told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“Neither [Ryan] Giggs nor [David] Beckham nor [Eric] Cantona were ever told this.“
Ronaldo joined United from Sporting Lisbon in 2003 for a fee of £12.24million, a record English fee for a teenager at the time.
And his desire to be the best player in the world was there for Solskjaer and his former team-mates to see from the moment he moved to Old Trafford.
"At first he was shy and didn't know the language, and then he learned it,” Solsjkaer said.
He was the only one who Sir Alex said: 'OK, only worry about attacking, do not think about defending.'
"He was in the gym forty minutes before training and he also stayed 40 minutes afterwards."
Ronaldo is up against his old side tonight as Juventus welcome the Red Devils to Allianz Stadium.
The Portuguese failed to find the back of the net in the reverse fixture a fortnight ago - which the Italians won 1-0 - but Juve boss Max Allegri reckons the former Real Madrid man will get on the scoresheet tonight
"He will score [on Wednesday]," Allegri said of Ronaldo.
"He didn't play the first match, he didn't play the second, he played only one match. And he provided an assist.
"I mean, it's not like he played many Champions League matches so far."
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