Ferdinand reveals O'Shea was left 'panting' after facing CR7 in 2003 friendly

Rio Ferdinand has joked that former Manchester United team-mate John O'Shea needed an oxygen tank after after facing Cristiano Ronaldo back in 2003.

Ronaldo put in a sensational performance for Sporting Lisbon in a 3-1 pre-season friendly win against United before moving to Old Trafford just days later.

O'Shea had the misfortune of having to mark the Ronaldo that night and Ferdinand says the Irishman could barely speak at half-time after chasing him around the pitch.

'We played against Sporting in 2003, we get in at half-time and John O'Shea must've needed an oxygen tank next to him,' he said during a life FIFA 20 match as part of the 'Stay Home. Play Together' campaign by EA Sports and Copa90.

'He was in bits and he was sitting there panting. We were telling him to get closer to Ronaldo and he couldn't even answer us.'

Ferdinand and the rest of his United team-mates were left stunned by Ronaldo's performance and urged Sir Alex Ferguson to try and sign him.

'To be fair, me, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt were standing there going 'this kid's unbelievable, we've got to sign him'.

'We got on the coach and we were delayed for about an hour and a half, and then they said they were doing a deal to sign Ronaldo now.'

Just days after that game, United completed a £12.24 million deal to sign Ronaldo and he went on to become one of the greatest players in the club's history.