MANCHESTER UNITED legend Sir Alex Ferguson once gave Cristiano Ronaldo time off to go home and visit his sick father.
The Portuguese superstar retold the touching anecdote during a chat for the Red Devils’ YouTube channel.
Ferguson brought the Portuguese ace to United from Sporting Lisbon in 2003.
And in the next six years, the 36-year-old went on to become one of the best players in the world.
Ronaldo and Fergie built a special bond during their time together at Old Trafford.
And Ronnie recalled a situation which further cemented their relationship.
Ronaldo said: “Probably he doesn’t remember, but I will say it because it’s a beautiful story.
“One day, my father was in hospital, and I was so emotional, very low.
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“And I spoke with him and he said: ‘Cristiano, go there for two or three days.’
“We had difficult games and I was a key player in that moment.
“He said: ‘It will be tough because we have difficult games, but I understand your situation and I’ll leave you [out] and you can go and see your father.’
“For me, these are the most important things – apart from winning Champions Leagues, to win the Premier League, to win cups and stuff.
“So I have to appreciate him, because what he said to me, he always did. I have to appreciate that.”
Ronaldo’s father Jose Dinis Aveiro died from liver failure in 2005, aged 52.
He missed most of his son’s historic achievements and Ronnie once said: “I really don’t know my father 100 per cent.”
The United icon also described him as a ‘drunk person’.
Fergie was sat next to Ronaldo as he told the tale and explained what made him so compassionate.
‘I KNEW HIS FATHER WAS ILL’
The Scot said: “I got that from an experience as a young manager.
“I was 33 and a young boy came to my office. It was a Tuesday and he said: ‘Boss, can I have Friday off?’
“I said: ‘Why do you want Friday off?’ He said: ‘My mother’s died.’
“You’re beat. What can you do?
“I went: ‘Oh, of course, son.’
“From that moment on, if a player came to me and said ‘I want tomorrow off’, I’d say: ‘Yes, can I help you?’
“In the case of Cristiano, I knew his father was ill and I knew he was in hospital. It was important for him to be there.
“The football club didn’t matter and some things are bigger than the football club.
“Family is definitely one of them. Without question.
“You should never put any club in front of your family.”
Ronaldo scored 118 goals and provided 76 assists in 293 United games before earning a then-world record £80million move to Real Madrid.
And Sir Alex recently confirmed he played an instrumental role in bringing Ronaldo back to the club from Juventus this summer.
The 79-year-old was reported to have personally called the Portuguese great in a bid to convince him to return to United after 12 years away.
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Ronaldo had been contemplating a move to United’s cross-town rivals Man City before the intervention by his old boss.
A host of former team-mates and executives are also understood to have made direct pleas to the forward as he pondered a move.
But it was Fergie’s message the five-time Ballon d’Or winner that appears to have been the deciding factor in his move back to United.
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