SIR ALEX FERGUSON has insisted Cristiano Ronaldo's burgeoning celebrity status will not be allowed to ruin his career at Manchester United - just as it did with David Beckham.
Ronaldo has inherited Beckham's former title as United's most high-profile and marketable player, an iconic superstar whose looks and unique talent make him just as valuable off the field as on it.
But Fergie, who sold Beckham to Real Madrid in 2003 because he felt the former England captain's celebrity profile had suffocated his ability and ultimately become detrimental to United, is adamant Ronaldo will not suffer the same fate.
"It's obvious when a talent like Ronaldo comes along that there will be attention," said Fergie in a break from United's preseason tour of Asia. But this club has been used to that for years now. There was George Best and then Ryan Giggs."
"Every time a fresh young talent comes along, they get praise heaped upon them. This club is great at creating heroes - there's no question about that.
"Ronaldo is 22, and at that age you have to be flexible when it comes to curtailing their youthfulness.
"I remember Ryan coming into training once wearing a new jacket, and I said to him 'Where the hell did you get that?'
"But young people like to dress differently and they want a bit of freedom in their choices. They want to be men before they're men and, with Cristiano, a lot has happened to him in his time at Manchester United.
"He's matured fantastically well and he's an intelligent boy who looks after himself. He has a lot of pluses. You never know how players handle celebrity and all the attention.
"But with Ronaldo, he seems to do OK with that. He seems to be fine. He doesn't seem to be overwhelmed or overly flattered by it.
"The problem comes when players get flattered by it and start enjoying it. That's when you start worrying."
The similarities between Beckham and Ronaldo are compelling, not least because both are synonymous with United's iconic No.7 shirt and have a global appeal that transcends football.
Beckham brought out a clothing range called DB7 during his United career, while Ronaldo has just launched his own chain of fashion stores, intriguingly called CR7, in his native Madeira.
And just as Beckham was when United travelled to the Far East for a pre-season tour in 2001, Ronaldo has been mobbed by hysterical fans - most of them teenage girls - wherever he has gone. In short, Becksmania has been replaced by Ronaldomania.
But while the pressures of commercial duties and the relentless scrutiny of the outside world can take its toll on modern-day players, Fergie has no fears over Ronaldo's ability to handle himself.
"At the moment there's absolutely no sign that the boy will be wasted by it," said Fergie. "When people ask to interview him, I don't worry too much. He can cope."
And Fergie is convinced the 22-year-old, who scooped the top individual honours last season - including PFA Player of the Year and the Football Writers' Player of the Year awards - can go one better and be crowned World and European Player of the Year.
"I hope he can," said Fergie. "Last season there was a fantastic improvement in Cristiano in terms of his goalscoring. To get 23 goals as a wide player is incredible.
"I know there were some penalties but to get something like 18 goals from open play as a wide player, there's not many who can do that." Fergie cut a relaxed figure as he looked ahead. The additions of Owen Hargreaves, Nani and Anderson, as well as the expected arrival of Carlos Tevez, have strengthened his squad and also Fergie's belief that further success lies ahead this season.
And the United boss believes he now has a squad with enough quality and strength in depth to add to his solitary Champions League triumph of 1999.
"This squad certainly give us lots of alternatives," said Fergie.
"In the past we've complained about that. Against AC Milan in the Champions League semi-final second leg last season, we simply didn't have enough bodies. Nowadays you need 25 players during a season."
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