Cristiano Ronaldo believes Manchester United made him the player he is now

Ronaldo gave special credit to Giggs, Scholes and Neville for his development

Cristiano Ronaldo has expressed his love, respect and gratitude for Manchester United and his former team-mates in an interview with The Times. The ex-United winger accepted that the Manchester-based club played a huge role in his overall development.

The Red Devils signed Ronaldo from Sporting CP for a reported sum of £12.24 million in 2003. Gradually, the lanky winger developed into a world-beater during his time at Old Trafford. He credits his former team-mates Paul Scholes, Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs for the help they lent him to become the player he is today.

"Manchester was a huge education for me," Ronaldo told The Times. "There were guys who always arrived for training one hour early. Scholes and Neville were incredible examples. Neville was the most professional player I saw. This is why these guys played in the top level for 10 years.

"People like Giggsy, too. I learnt from them. I would go to training early, too. I would do exercise, strength, abdominals, core: many things. That example from the older players, I took it.

"Sometimes, you try something different and you say, 'Ooh, if I do that, then the ball is going to do this'. Everything was a lesson for me at that age. Being at United taught me to train hard all the time. To eat properly, sleep good, recovery sessions, everything. You have to dedicate yourself 100 per cent."

Sir Alex a great human being: Ronaldo

The Portuguese spent six years at Old Trafford, and one figure who will always stand out for him is Sir Alex Ferguson. Time and again Ronaldo has reiterated his love and respect for the ex-United boss. The Real Madrid star told in the interview that SAF taught him how to make decisions quickly.

He said, “I learnt a lot from Sir Alex, too. One of the terms that I still remember today is 'decision-making'. ‘You are great, but you don't have decision-making. Pass the f***ing ball.' He always told me that. 'Cristiano: pass the f***ing ball.' I still have contact with him. He is a great guy, great coach, great human being."

Ronaldo eventually left Manchester United for Real Madrid in 2009, for a transfer fee worth £80 million, which made him the most expensive footballer, up until the Los Blancos spent £85.3 million on Gareth Bale in 2013.

The three times Ballon D’Or winner has been constantly linked with a return to the Theater of Dreams over the past few years. The speculations were further fuelled by Ronaldo’s friend, Jose Semedo, who plays for Sheffield Wednesday when he told Talksport that the Portuguese captain wants to finish his career in England.