'I played with Cristiano Ronaldo at Man Utd – but he wasn't my favourite team-mate'

Gary Neville revealed that he found David Beckham to be a superior team-mate to Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United.A stalwart of Old Trafford, Neville’s illustrious career spanned 19 years from 1992 to 2011, during which he clinched eight Premier League titles, nine domestic cups, and two Champions Leagues.

The no-nonsense right-back was renowned for his composure and leadership, earning the captain’s armband under Sir Alex Ferguson in 2005 following Roy Keane’s departure. Owing to his unwavering loyalty and service, Neville had the privilege of sharing the pitch with some of the world’s finest players – from English greats like Paul Scholes, Wayne Rooney, and Rio Ferdinand, to European stars such as Ruud van Nistelrooy and Eric Cantona.

However, it was Beckham with whom he formed an immediate bond, establishing a remarkable rapport both on and off the field that translated into almost telepathic communication during matches. But when Beckham bid farewell to United for Real Madrid in 2003, Neville was tasked with forging a new partnership with Ronaldo.

Revealing a contrast in their playing styles and rapport with Sky Sports, Neville admitted that while Ronaldo soared to stardom at Manchester United, he never developed the same level of on-pitch communication as he had with Beckham. He said: “Well I never saw Ronaldo, Beckham was better to play with because he actually played with you.

“Ronaldo, that was one of the things about him, he was never in front of you. The odd time he was, you could make quite a lot of dummy runs around the back of him. He was a great individual who could play all across the front line. I think obviously the partnership with Beckham was something that was special.

“But Ronaldo at two or three years at Old Trafford was absolutely incredible.” Ronaldo’s trajectory mirrored Beckham’s when he left the Red Devils for Real Madrid in 2009, where he achieved immense success, including two La Liga titles and four Champions League trophies – amassing 450 goals and 131 assists in 438 appearances.

After departing from Madrid in 2018, Ronaldo spent three seasons with Juventus before making a high-profile return to Manchester United in 2021. However, his second stint in the north-west proved short-lived, concluding by mutual agreement after just a year. In 2023, Ronaldo took up a new challenge with Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr, where he continues to play at the age of 39.

On the other hand, Neville remained loyal to Manchester United throughout his career, retiring in 2011 and briefly dipping his toes into management. He served as an assistant for England for four years before taking on a full managerial role at Valencia. These days, Neville is more comfortable analysing the game from the sidelines, earning acclaim for his punditry work with Sky Sports.