Cristiano Ronaldo was 'bullied' by Man Utd team-mates and 'took fight to hierarchy'

  Ronaldo won three Premier League titles and a Champions League with Man United, but former Red Devils defender Mads Timm claims the Portug...

 

Ronaldo won three Premier League titles and a Champions League with Man United, but former Red Devils defender Mads Timm claims the Portuguese star was 'bullied' when he first arrived at Old Trafford.

Former Manchester United defender Mads Timm has claimed Cristiano Ronaldo was bullied by his Red Devils team-mates.

Timm, who left Old Trafford in 2006 without making an appearance for the club, made the accusation in his autobiography.

He alleges that Ronaldo was the subject of taunts because of his hair and his "acrobatic attempts" to impress the coaches.

Ronaldo arrived at United from Sporting Lisbon as an 18-year-old in 2003 and had a slow start to life in the Premier League.

The Portuguese soon developed into one of the world's most exciting talents and was sold to Real Madrid for £80m in 2009.

At 36, Ronaldo now has all the trappings of fame and fortune, but Timm recalls how it wasn't easy for Ronaldo to begin with.

In his book, Red Devil, via The Sun, Timm alleges: "He was quite extraordinary as a footballer, and as a person.

"Like me, he was bullied when he came to the club.

"With his hair – which he soon got clipped – and with his almost acrobatic attempt to impress the coaches.

"He could stand and do 10-15 step overs before he tried to dribble past the opponent.

Timm never made a first team appearance for Man United but did turn out for the club's reserve team

"‘Pass now, just pass, dammit,’ shouted Gary Neville and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer constantly to him when we had reserve team matches together.

"The special thing about Cristiano Ronaldo was that he immediately took the fight against the hierarchy. And he won it.

"He was completely indifferent to the rest of his teammates. He gave no room for others. It was me, me, me. Cristiano Ronaldo. CR7."

Ronaldo enjoyed great success at Man United before moving on to Real Madrid and Juventus

Timm failed to make the grade at Old Trafford, but he always knew Ronaldo was destined for greatness.

"He was just the opposite; he was moving forward, clear-headed and with an indomitable faith in himself," Timm added.