'Why have you got a private chef?!' - Cristiano Ronaldo's early days at Man Utd detailed by former team-mate - including coming back 'massive' & key role of Paul Scholes

Ronaldo was a wiry, twinkle-toed winger when United snapped him up from Sporting CP in 2003. The Red Devils knew that they had an exciting talent on their hands, but unlocking his full potential promised to pose plenty of challenges. Fortunately for all concerned, the talented teenager was determined to reach the very top of the game.

Ronaldo became a sponge in Manchester, soaking up knowledge from experienced members of United’s playing and coaching staff. He listened and learned, with it quickly dawning on him how much effort was required in order to head down a path to greatness. Relentless ambition has always driven the Portugal international.

Ronaldo’s behaviour did raise a few eyebrows in the United camp, with early trends set by a man who has gone on to make a record-setting career out of breaking the mould. He recognised the importance of marginal gains long before many others adopted that mindset.

The Portuguese GOAT won the first of five Champions League crowns and Ballons d’Or during his time with United. He left for Real Madrid in 2009, rewriting more history books there, before spending time with Juventus in Italy and eventually on to the Saudi Pro League with Al-Nassr - via a second forgettable stint at Old Trafford.

Quizzed on whether those that witnessed the 2003 version of Ronaldo could ever have predicted what he would eventually become, former team-mate Simpson - speaking in association with MightyTips - told GOAL: “No, to be honest! There is no way if you said to me he’s 40 years-plus still going strong - not just in Saudi, but for his national team. He still looks as fit as ever. OK, he’s changed his game. But did I ever see him being that fox-in-the-box at that age? No.

“When he came in, I remember times when the lads were shouting at him constantly - Gary Neville etcetera. He didn’t know when to release the ball, he didn’t know when to cross it, he didn’t have all that stuff. He had all that ability but it was just putting it together and making the right decisions at the right times. I think that’s why being surrounded by those players was so good - [Paul] Scholes, [Ryan] Giggs. Being around them every day, he was learning off them.

“There was one summer he came back, from the period being off, and it was a complete transformation - he was just massive! It was like ‘what have you been eating?’ I think he realised, because that’s what he does, I’m going to get kicked, I’m going to get pushed, so he was working every day in the gym on his ankles, balance. He came back stronger.”

Simpson added on Ronaldo putting the foundations in place as a teenager that have allowed him to continue playing beyond his 40th birthday: “You can’t write him off! He does everything right - from his diet when he was young. He had a private chef and we were like: ‘Private chef? Why have you got a private chef?’ He started that whole looking after himself, sleeping patterns, recovery ice baths, and he’s still doing it now.”

Ronaldo has signed a new two-year contract with Al-Nassr that will take him beyond the age of 42. He remains in contention for selection with Portugal, having earned 225 caps and found the target on 143 occasions for them, with the plan being to reach 1,000 career goals before hanging up his boots.

Fitness permitting, Ronaldo should grace next summer’s World Cup finals and has seen one more challenge speculated on at club level, with the evergreen frontman being urged to go full circle by returning to Sporting before heading into retirement - with a move into club ownership or directorial posts being mooted beyond that, which could eventually lead CR7 back to Manchester.