In an interview with the Daily Mail, former United coach Tony Coton explained how Ferguson got the very best out of Ronaldo in training.

"Ferguson showed what he thought of this kid Ronaldo by handing him the club's iconic No7 shirt when he signed him in 2003,” Coton said.

"But just as important was the gaffer's ability to recognize his weaknesses.

"One flaw was his habit of falling to the floor like a rag doll every time he lost a tackle.

With teammates like Roy Keane, Rio Ferdinand & Paul Scholes involved in these sessions, Ronaldo was given a pretty tough ride.

"These games were intense & no prisoners were taken," added Coton. "Poor Ronaldo didn't know what hit him as team-mates he'd been sharing a joke with him gave him the kind of treatment that was no laughing matter.

"Toughened pros like Roy Keane, Rio Ferdin& would lambast him for being soft.

"It was tough love & slowly but surely, the message began to seep into our winger's consciousness."

Fourteen years after joining the Red Devils & Ronaldo has got on to become one of the greatest players the sport has ever seen.

Four - soon to be five - Ballon d’Ors, five league titles for both United & Real & four Champions Leagues.

Would he have achieved all of that without Ferguson’s tough love early in his career? Probably not.