Queiroz: Ronaldo can be world's best

Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo can become the finest player in the world, according to the club's assistant manager Carlos Queiroz.

"I am always trying to create in him that special ambition and desire to compete, to be not one of the best players in the world but the best player in the world because he can do it. He can be the best player in the world," Queiroz told reporters.

"We have a couple of players here that can have that possibility if they learn from the game and learn from life and create the right harmony and the right balance between how they play, the things they say, the friends they have and everything around the game."

"It is part of our job to help them to come to the right decisions either on or off the pitch," Queiroz added.

"And I must say as a compliment to him (Ronaldo) that he has grown up and matured fantastically in the last few months, especially after the World Cup."

Ronaldo's future at Old Trafford was thought to be in the balance after he helped Portugal knock England out of the FIFA World Cup at the quarter-final stage in Germany this year.

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His part in the sending off of England forward and United team mate Wayne Rooney and a link with Real Madrid suggested Ronaldo's three-year stay in England might be coming to an end.

But with Queiroz working closely with his fellow Portugese on his return to pre-season training, United were adamant the 21-year-old would not leave and believe he is now playing some of the best football of his career at Old Trafford.

Ronaldo, who scored the equaliser in a 1-1 Premier League draw at Reading on Saturday, now faces a return to Portgual for next Tuesday's Champions League clash away to Benfica.

Defeat by the Lisbon side last season saw United finish bottom of their group and Ronaldo's angry gesture to supporters when he left the field at the Stadium of Light in December cost him a one-match European ban.

Queiroz believes the winger has learned his lesson from that incident and expects a more positive outcome when the teams meet again with United looking to extend their lead at the top of Group F.

"He was punished at Benfica so it will be a great opportunity for him to reverse what happened last season and leave Benfica's stadium correcting what happened a year ago," Queiroz said.

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