Red Ronaldo to be given Beckham’s jersey

ALEX FERGUSON has backed words with actions by handing teen sensation Cristiano Ronaldo David Beckham’s prized number seven shirt.

He described the 18-year-old, who along with Brazilian World Cup winner Kleberson formed part of yesterday's £18m double swoop, as 'one of the most exciting young players I have ever seen'.

If living up to that wasn't hard enough, the Portuguese youngster will also find himself compared with the legendary figures who have worn Old Trafford's most coveted shirt, including Beckham, Bryan Robson and Eric Cantona.

Ronaldo will be officially unveiled at a press conference this morning and could make his debut in tonight's final pre-season friendly at Stoke.

Already there is huge expectation surrounding the youngster, who cost United £12.24m, despite making just 25 first-team appearances for Sporting Lisbon.

The United staff who have seen him in action believe he could have as big an impact on the Premiership as Wayne Rooney and Ferguson admitted the Old Trafford squad pleaded with him to sign the striker following last week's 3-1 friendly defeat in Lisbon.

"In the dressing room after the match last week the lads were talking about him constantly," admitted Ferguson.

"On the plane back home they urged me to sign him that's how highly they rated him. He is one of the most exciting young players I have ever seen."

Ferguson stepped up his interest in the player over the last couple of weeks when it became clear Ronaldo would be moving on this summer.

United's recently-completed youth development programme with Sporting ensured they were given maximum opportunity to tie up the transfer, and while the fee is more than double the expected £6m, Ferguson believes it will prove value for money.

Ronaldo's arrival has overshadowed that of Kleberson, even though the Brazilian World Cup winner is far more likely to be part of the United line-up in their first Premiership game, against Bolton on Saturday.

Kleberson has been earmarked as a midfield replacement for Juan Sebastian Veron, whose £15m departure to Chelsea has resulted in an unseemly row between the Argentine and his former boss.

Ferguson was so keen to get the deal done, he put in a personal appearance at Kleberson's work permit hearing on Monday.

"One of the reasons we sold Seba Veron was because we knew we were getting the highly talented Kleberson."

Like Ronaldo, the 23-year-old one-time Leeds target, has also signed a five-year contract, and admitted that once he became aware of United's interest, there was never a question in his mind where he would end up.