Cristiano Ronaldo was “frustrating in the beginning” at Manchester United, admits Darren Fletcher, but “single-mindedness” allowed the Portuguese to become “the best player in the world”.
A former team-mate of the Portuguese superstar told The Lockdown Tactics podcast: "He was probably thankful of coming into that environment because it made him a winner.
"Ronaldo, as a young boy, he basically got chucked on a plane after a pre-season game because of how well he played against us and a week later he was in Manchester."
Fletcher added on the traits which made Ronaldo special: "He learnt 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."
Ronaldo is still going strong at the age of 35, with the dedication he has shown to his craft down the years suggesting that he has many seasons left in him despite approaching a stage of his career where many start to slow down.