Revealed: When Cristiano Ronaldo was reduced to TEARS after Sir Alex Ferguson ‘ripped into him’ for showboating during Manchester United clash

Legendary former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson once reduced Cristiano Ronaldo to tears following a game.

Ferguson was livid at Ronaldo for showboating and made sure that the Portugal international was fully aware of his feelings. 

Ronaldo has enjoyed an illustrious career and is undoubtedly one of the greatest players of all time.

However, Rio Ferdinand disclosed that Ferguson wasn’t afraid to put a young Ronaldo in his place. 

Ronaldo, who joined United from Sporting Lisbon in 2003, often liked to express himself with tricks.

On one occasion, though, Ferguson didn’t take too kindly to Ronaldo’s actions. 

Ferguson, who was renowned for giving players the hairdryer treatment, was angry at Ronaldo for showboating

Rio Ferdinand revealed that Ferguson was livid with Ronaldo after the game against Benfica

Ferdinand revealed that the incident occurred following a Champions League game against Benfica in 2005.

United were beaten 2-1 in Portugal and were knocked out of the Champions League, with Ronaldo being substituted in the 67th minute. 

Ferdinand told BBC Sport as part of a documentary entitled ‘Sir Alex’: ‘We’d been to Portugal and played a couple of games, and he hadn’t played well, Cristiano, because he was young, he tried too hard. I remember we played Benfica, and the manager ripped into Cristiano. ‘Who d’you think you are? You’re coming in here trying to prove to everybody who you think you are, you think you’re a superstar’.

‘And I remember Cristiano in tears in the changing room. And I was like, ‘This manager doesn’t care, man. He doesn’t care who you are.” 

Ronaldo initially remained at United until 2009 before returning to Old Trafford in 2021.

Across his two spells at the club Ronaldo made 346 appearances and scored 145 goals.

During his first spell he won the Champions League, three Premier League titles, the FA Cup, two League Cups and the Club World Cup.

Ronaldo, who currently plays for Al-Nassr, also enjoyed success with Real Madrid and Juventus. He was won the Ballon d’Or on five occasions.