Sir Alex Ferguson once reduced a young Cristiano Ronaldo to tears while managing him at Manchester United.
Ronaldo signed for United in 2003 and enjoyed six successful years at the club before joining Real Madrid.
But it wasn't always plain sailing for the Portuguese superstar, with a game against Benfica early in his career leaving the Scotsman furious.
Guillem Balague's book 'Cristiano Ronaldo: The Biography' explained per The Mirror: "In the dressing room, Ferguson could not contain himself: 'Who do you think you are?
"'Trying to play by yourself? You'll never be a player if you do this!' Ronaldo began to cry. The other players left him be.
"'He needed to learn,' said [Rio] Ferdinand. 'That was a message from the team, not just from Ferguson: everyone thought he needed to learn.'"
Ferguson was known for hitting his players with 'hair-dryer' treatment if they weren't performing and Ronaldo took his words to heart.
During his time in England, 'CR7' won three Premier League titles and the Champions League and formed an unbreakable bond with 'father figure' Ferguson.
Other players were frustrated by Ronaldo when he first arrived at Old Trafford, with many thinking his selfish nature had a negative impact on the team.
Ruud van Nistelrooy often clashed with Ronaldo and Louis Saha has admitted the Dutchman crossed the line at an awful time.
"Ruud had that kind of ego: he wanted all the passes," Saha told Four Four Two.
"And sometimes, for the development of Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, it was difficult for the manager to deal with.
"Did Ruud make Ronaldo cry? Yeah, there were stories because I think they ended up in an argument at the moment when Cristiano's father had passed away, so it wasn't the right moment.
"Things like that happen when two players have lots of spirit, but I'm sure Ruud regrets some of his words."
Ronaldo's father, Jose Dinis Aveiro, died of liver failure in 2005 when his son was just 20-years-old.
Rumors suggest van Nistelrooy's abrupt exit from United was down to Ferguson making an example of him because of a comment he made about Ronaldo's father.
Former Labour communications chief Alastair Campbell, a good friend of Ferguson's, shed light on the situation in his book.
Per the Times, Campbell stated: "The last straw was when he told Cristiano Ronaldo he had found a new dad in Carlos [Queiroz, Ferguson's assistant] just after Ronaldo's dad, who was an alcoholic, had died."
"Carlos asked him to show respect and he said he didn't respect anyone there. He later apologised but CR was not having it.
"Alex sent van Nistelrooy home when he heard about it later. He was not sure what he was going to do with him."
source https://www.sportbible.com/football/news-football-legends-sir-alex-ferguson-once-left-cristiano-ronaldo-in-tears-20201106
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