Van Nistelrooy's shocking revelation about a young Cristiano Ronaldo

Former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has heaped praise on Cristiano Ronaldo, revealing the incredible transformation he witnessed during their time together at Old Trafford. In a recent interview, the Dutchman described watching a young Ronaldo arrive at the club and within just three years become the best player in the world as "the greatest development he's ever seen".

A historic encounter

Van Nistelrooy and Ronaldo were teammates at Manchester United between 2003 and 2006, a period that saw the club dominate English football. While the Dutchman was already established as one of the world's leading strikers, Ronaldo arrived as a raw but immensely talented teenager.

"When Cristiano arrived, he was just a young kid with incredible potential," Van Nistelrooy recalled. "He had this unbelievable skill and a desire to be the best. I could see that he was going to be special."

The Dutchman was particularly impressed by Ronaldo's work ethic and his willingness to learn. "He would stay behind after training to practice his finishing," Van Nistelrooy said. "He was always trying to improve. It was inspiring to watch."

Cristiano Ronaldo's conviction

Van Nistelrooy also revealed that Ronaldo's confidence was evident from a young age. "He had this belief in himself that was incredible," he said. "He would always say that he was going to be the best player in the world, and he backed up his words with his actions."

The former Manchester United striker believes that the experience of playing alongside Van Nistelrooy helped Ronaldo to develop into the world-class player he is today. "I think playing with me helped him to understand the demands of English football," said Van Nistelrooy. "He learned a lot from me, and I learned a lot from him."