Fergie Tips Ronaldo For Greatness

Sir Alex Ferguson has urged Cristiano Ronaldo to use his five-year contract with Manchester United to prove he should be bracketed alongside the all-time legends of the game.

Despite constant speculation about a world-record move to Real Madrid or Barcelona, Ronaldo has opted to remain with the Old Trafford outfit, extending his stay until 2012.

While the deal had been largely anticipated, and will rocket Ronaldo into the Red Devils' top earnings bracket, it has provided the perfect backdrop to United's assault on the Treble, which continues with an FA Cup semi-final against Watford at Villa Park on Saturday.

Three points clear in the Premiership and a two-legged encounter with AC Milan away from a Champions League final, Ronaldo has been a major factor behind United's success this term.

The Portugal winger took his goals tally to 20 with a double in the midweek rout of AS Roma
and such has been the consistency of his game this season, many pundits now believe he is currently the best player on the planet.

Team-mate Patrice Evra went even further this week, claiming Ronaldo had the ability to make the same impact as Pele and Maradona, widely accepted to be the best two players ever to grace the game.

Rather than shy away from the comparisons, Ferguson embraced them and does not necessarily feel the 22-year-old, who is about to complete his fourth season at Old Trafford, will fail to match them.

"At 22, he has the same skill factor as Maradona and Pele," said Ferguson.

"He is one of the best signings I have ever made. The measurement of his improvement this year is astronomical.

"In terms of top-flight football, where do you find a winger who has scored 20 goals. It is incredible.

"Without question, Cristiano is getting to the level of best player in the world.

"Thereafter, it is up to others to decide whether he is as good as Maradona and Pele. That is the challenge in front of him now."

Given stellar talents such as Zinedine Zidane, Johann Cruyff and George Best did not quite manage to climb into bracket reserved for the very elite, Ronaldo's task to do so is enormous.

As Ferguson pointed out, Pele's three World Cup final wins and 1300 career goals overshadows everyone, while Maradona's brilliance as the decisive factor in Argentina conquering the world in 1986.

Yet superlatives are starting to run out for Ronaldo, who began the campaign under such a cloud after the adverse publicity he received following his part in England's World Cup demise, Ferguson felt it necessary to have a chat with the youngster about his future.

"We had dinner with him in Portugal and stressed this had happened before to David Beckham," revealed the Scot.

"It is a seven-day wonder really.

"There is nothing wrong with booing. We get booed at most places. But he had the nerve to handle it. He still gets a bit of it but that is only because he is a great player."

Admitting his irritation with the presidential electioneering at Real and Barcelona which gave way to fears there may be substance in the rumours swirling out of Spain that Ronaldo was indeed bound for a better climate than Manchester has to offer,Ferguson also expressed supreme confidence Ronaldo has made a wise decision to stay where he is.

"He is happy here," he said.

"He can see his career has risen here. He is playing in front of 76,000 people every home game. These are important factors.

"There was no reason for him to think about leaving, other than thefact people perceive Real Madrid as a club for galacticos, or whatever they call them.

"They have this notion about themselves and Barcelona are a fantastic club too but I can't say they are miles in front of Manchester United.

"Most people recognise we are one of the biggest clubs in the world and we believe Cristiano is in the right place."

Watford boss Adrian Boothroyd is the next man to try to find a way of stopping Ronaldo, who is bound to figure in a United side which will be bolstered by the return of Paul Scholes from suspension.

Given Scholes is being introduced to a side which hammered seven past Roma in midweek, it is hardly a surprise the Hornets are being totally written off.

Ferguson is too canny to take anything for granted. However, having won all seven of his previous FA Cup semi-finals, it would rank among the tournaments biggest upsets if the run came to an end this weekend.

"We respect Watford," he said.

"They have a good manager, an honest bunch of players and a bit of pace up front.

"But I have never lost a semi-final and hopefully that statistic still holds on Saturday night."