When Cristiano Ronaldo first joined Manchester United from Sporting Lisbon 20 years ago, Sir Alex Ferguson wanted to toughen him up. And according to former United defender Rio Ferdinand, he and Quinton Fortune took that task seriously. Speaking to Australian radio show Kyle and Jackie O, Ferdinand revealed that he and Fortune used to “smash” Ronaldo in training, “borderline bullying” the young Portuguese star in order to build his resilience.
Ferdinand also spoke about the epic table tennis battles he and Ronaldo used to have at the Carrington training ground. The two would play every other day before training as part of their warm-up routine. Ferdinand said he used to “smash him all over the place,” but Ronaldo did manage to beat him on occasion. The matches were so intense that Ronaldo would “almost cry” when he lost, such was his competitive spirit.
Despite the tough love he received from his teammates, Ronaldo went on to become one of the greatest footballers of all time. During his first stint at Old Trafford from 2003 to 2009, he helped United win three Premier League titles, the Champions League, and the Fifa Club World Cup. After leaving for Real Madrid, he continued to break records on an almost monthly basis for both club and country.
Now 38 years old, Ronaldo is playing for Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr after his controversial exit from United in December. But his time at Old Trafford clearly left a lasting impression on him. In a recent interview with MUTV, he said: “I have a fantastic history with this amazing club. I won everything here, so I have great memories.”
Ronaldo’s success is a testament to his hard work and dedication, as well as the support he received from his teammates and coaches. And while the tough love he received from Ferdinand and Fortune may have been difficult at the time, it clearly helped him develop the resilience and competitive spirit that have made him a legend of the game.