Former Manchester United forward Eddie Johnson has revealed how club legend Ruud van Nistelrooy never wanted to be around Cristiano Ronaldo at first.

According to Johnson, the former Dutch striker did not get along with Ronaldo after the Portuguese joined Manchester United in August 2003.

Ronaldo arrived two years after Nistelrooy did, with the Dutchman at the peak of his powers when the Portuguese joined.

And Johnson, who only played for United’s senior team once between 2003 and 2006, claimed that Nistelrooy’s face was often left annoyed by Ronaldo’s passing.

Johnson told talkSPORT, “I didn’t necessarily dislike Ruud, but he made it tough for you. Gary Neville made it tough but never made you feel like you were below him, whereas Ruud was different.

“I felt he didn’t like the young lads. He couldn’t stand Ronaldo at first! He was making run after run, and Ronaldo would take ages to pass the ball.”