Ronaldo Salutes Ferguson

Cristiano Ronaldo ahs saluted box Sir Alex Ferguson as one of the key factors behind his meteoric rise to the top of world football.

Having been voted the FIFpro Player of the Year, Ronaldo is set to win the FIFA and UEFA awards later in the year, and puts this all down to the faith of Sir Alex through the summer transfer saga as well as the whole of his career.

"Sir Alex has been the big inspiration to me," he said. "I am here because of him. When he saw me playing for Sporting Lisbon against Manchester United he believed in me enough to buy me. I've learned many things from him and I'm continuing to learn. He is a great manager.

"Of course Sir Alex was the main factor for keeping me here but what happened in the summer is finished. My head is focused on the club. My focus is solely on playing well for Manchester United and winning the Premier League and Champions League again. The summer is finished. My head is always here in the club.

"If I smile it is because I smile. If I don't, it's because I don't. People are always writing things about me. It is up to them; for me it is not a problem. I will just try to play well and do my best. I am just focused on playing good football."

He added: "I am an ambitious player. I try to improve every season. I know last year was magnificent. I played really well, I scored so many goals and we won major trophies. It is possible this season but my priority is not only to score goals. I don't have to do that. I just have to play well for the team. I want to do the same as last season. I don't need to prove anything to anyone. I just want to keep proving to myself that I am a good player."