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Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United: Class of '92's memories

The Neville brothers and Ryan Giggs reflect on Portuguese's development at Old Trafford

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Ryan Giggs, Phil Neville and Gary Neville recall playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo during his Manchester United days

What sets Cristiano Ronaldo apart from his peers? And what was the defining moment of his development from a player with potential to one of the world's best?

Eight years on from his world-record transfer to Real Madrid, Ronaldo is back in training after an extended break and expected to line up against Manchester United in a competitive match for only the third time when the sides clash in the UEFA Super Cup in Skopje, Macedonia, on Tuesday.

The reunion evokes memories of Ronaldo's rise during his six seasons at Old Trafford - a period that culminated in domestic dominance for United and saw the birth of one of football's all-time greats.

Since leaving United, Ronaldo has won 11 major trophies with Real, including three Champions Leagues, and taken his personal Ballon d'Or tally to four.

Yet for all of his success in Madrid, the place where he mastered his craft still holds a place in the Portuguese's heart.

Here, former team-mates Gary Neville, Phil Neville and Ryan Giggs reflect on their time in the dressing room with Ronaldo...

Gary Neville

In his early years at United I didn't think he'd reach the heights he has.

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Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United celebrates scoring the first goal of the game with Gary Neville during the Premiership match against Aston Villa
Image: Gary Neville congratulates Ronaldo after his opener at Aston Villa in 2004

But after 2005/06 his body completely transformed from being quite thin and skinny to being completely different, as too did his goal scoring, decision making and maturity. Once you saw him playing at that level then you thought 'wow'.

That 2006 to 2008 period was unbelievable. Coming back from the 2006 World Cup was the moment I remember him completely changing. Obviously there was the big incident with Wayne Rooney so he came as someone who was hated nationally and had a bad reputation with the newspapers.

Gelsenkirchen, GERMANY:  Manchester United teammates Gary Neville (L) of England and Cristiano Ronaldo (R) of Portugal are seen in the quarter-final game f
Image: Ronaldo returned a villain after Portugal eliminated England from the 2006 World Cup

But he just seemed to mature overnight and his body completely changed. It was in that instance where I felt the big change was, it wasn't a particular moment in a football match.

Ryan Giggs

The most amazing thing is his goalscoring, it's unbelievable. To turn from a winger who used to beat men, and more often than not make goals rather than score, to have a goalscoring record that he's got is unbelievable.

The moment which sticks out is a goal he scored against Porto, he was about 40 yards out and it was unbelievable, an unbelievable goal.

PORTO, PORTUGAL - APRIL 15:  Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United celebrates talks to captain Ryan Giggs during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final s
Image: Ronaldo's sensational goal against Porto in 2009 left Giggs speechless

To go back to Portugal against one of his rivals as he was growing up and to score that goal was incredible. There's three or four times on a pitch where I've gone 'wow' and that was one of them.

He rightfully gets a lot of respect because of his professionalism. He was professional, one of the most if not the most professional players I've ever seen, he has to be because he plays every game.

He's never injured so he's got to be professional, regardless of everything that comes with it - all the haircuts, all the admiration that he gets - he's still an ultimate professional.

Manchester United's Portuguese midfielder Cristiano Ronaldo (R) celebrates with English defender Gary Neville (L) and Welsh midfielder Ryan Giggs after the
Image: Gary Neville, Giggs and Ronaldo celebrate United's title triumph in 2009

Phil Neville

Ronaldo has so much confidence, even in his first two years when he was developing, he knew where he was going to end and that was probably one of the best players in the world.

He had unbelievable confidence, ability, the vision and an unbelievable work ethic. He didn't just get there by natural talent, he got there by the amount of hours he used to put in on the training pitch.

Ryan Giggs, Cristiano Ronaldo and Phil Neville celebrate in the dressing room after winning the AXA FA Cup match between Manchester United and Arsenal
Image: Giggs, Ronaldo and Phil Neville after United's FA Cup semi-final win over Arsenal in 2004

When you see what he's delivered, and remember the work he used to put in at Carrington every single day, it's no surprise that he's been such a success.

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