Fred: Cristiano Ronaldo’s elite standards meant ‘everything had to be his way’ at Manchester United

Former Manchester United midfielder Fred has praised Cristiano Ronaldo’s extraordinary professionalism, saying the Portugal forward was so committed to his standards that “everything had to be done his way”.

Fred shared a dressing room with Ronaldo during the Portuguese forward’s second spell at Manchester United. Appearing on the Sharla podcast, the Brazilian recalled the discipline, personality and daily routine of one of football’s greatest figures.

“He is a good person, but he is extremely committed,” Fred said. “You cannot oppose him; everything has to be done his way.”

The midfielder also highlighted Ronaldo’s influence on his team-mates and the example he set through his work ethic.

“He is an extremely professional person,” Fred said, as quoted by DAZN. “When he joins a club, people’s perception of him changes because they see him working hard. He has a very strong mentality.”

Fred said Ronaldo’s dedication to training was among the aspects that impressed him most. The Brazilian recalled repeatedly seeing his team-mate working in the gym, regardless of when he arrived or left.

“I would arrive about an hour and a half early and find him already there in the gym,” Fred said. “I would leave and find that he was still there. I thought to myself: ‘My God, this man is really on another level.’

“He is a phenomenon in every sense of the word. He is extremely professional.”

The former Manchester United player also remembered an incident that illustrated Ronaldo’s attention to detail, even in ordinary situations. According to Fred, Ronaldo carried his own water and claimed it came from the Himalayas.

“He would carry his own water and say it was from the Himalayas,” Fred said. “They would stop him from bringing liquids in, and he would get very angry. In the end, he had to throw the water away.”

Fred added that his admiration for Ronaldo went beyond his approach to football and daily life. Despite the effects of age, he still considers the forward capable of changing a match.

“When he plays, he is a beast,” Fred said. “It is true that age affects him, whether you like it or not, but he has extraordinary talent.

“He is one of those players who, if they have the ball to shoot, leave no room for hesitation. He is an excellent player, a real phenomenon.”

Fred’s comments come during what the source describes as Ronaldo’s current crisis. The Portugal captain left the national team camp after a disagreement with manager Jorge Jesus, following his omission from the starting line-up in a 2-1 victory over Norway in the Nations League.