Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed that former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was a "football father" to him during his spell at Old Trafford.
The 30-year-old spent six trophy-laden years playing under the legendary Scot at the Theatre of Dreams, winning three Premier League crowns and a Champions League title in 2008.
Ferguson, who signed the Portuguese from Sporting Lisbon in 2003, won 25 major trophies with the Red Devils, but Ronaldo says that it was the 73-year-old's warmth away from the pitch which made him so "unbelievable".
"He invites everyone to come for lunch, come for tea... an English cup of tea! It was a family with him," the Real Madrid star told BBC Sport for a documentary on Ferguson.
"When my dad was sick in London and was in hospital – very bad, in a coma – I had a conversation with [Ferguson]. I said, 'Boss, I don't feel good.' We are in a key moment in the league and the Champions League , but I say, '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 was a football father for me."
Ronaldo scooped the first of his three Ballon d'Or crowns while playing under Ferguson, before winning two more at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Shane Callaghan
