Fergie hails 'massive loss' Ronaldo

Alex Ferguson claims departed hero Cristiano Ronaldo is “streets ahead” of Kaka and Lionel Messi as the best player in the world – but is confident teenage star Federico Macheda will eventually receive the same adulation.

Ferguson only agreed to Ronaldo’s desire to leave Manchester United for Real Madrid when the Spanish giants offered to pay an up-front world record payment of £80m this summer.