Cristiano Ronaldo has voiced his admiration for former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson and has described the Scot as his footballing father .
The Real Madrid star worked under Ferguson at United between 2003 and 2009 and he has nothing but fond memories of his former boss, stressing that the 73-year-old was there for him when he needed him most.
When my dad was sick in London and was in hospital very bad, in a coma I had a conversation with [Ferguson], Ronaldo told BBC for a documentary about the former Manchester United manager.
I said, Boss, I don t feel good. We were in a key moment in the league and the Champions League, but I said, Boss, I don t feel good. I want to see my dad.
[He said] Cristiano, you want to go one day, two days, one week, you can go. I m going to miss you here because you know you are important, but your dad [comes] first.
When he told me that, I thought, This guy s unbelievable.
He invited everyone to come for lunch, come for tea … an English cup of tea! It was a family with him. He was a football father for me.
