Cristiano Ronaldo 101

Former United captain Roy Keane has labelled former team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo ‘different class’ after his scintillating form this season.

Keane, now manager at Sunderland, has been taken aback by the 22-year-old’s sensational impact on United’s three-pronged assault for silverware.

Ex-skipper Keane told The Sunday Mirror: “I think Ronaldo is outstanding. If you had asked me two or three years ago I would have told you he could go on to be the best player in the world.

“I thought that would happen after he had been playing over a longer period of time, but his form this season has been a different class.”

“The skills Ronaldo has are frightening,” said Keane. “He is an entertainer and fans at United love that. It’s great to see and they are the type of players you would pay to watch.”

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Video/slideshow with some new Ronaldo pictures.

Two of Portugal’s most exciting young soccer star, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ricardo Quaresma.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has told Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo to cut out the diving ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup final.

Double footballer of the year Ronaldo has been in sparkling form this season but has been criticised by some for going to ground too easily.

And Mourinho said: ‘Ronaldo is a big player. But if he wants to be a bigger one, he must be fair with his opponents.

‘The final should be played with happiness. I’ll be disappointed if some players are diving and trying to get the opposition red cards on Saturday.

‘I don’t want to see any provocation.

‘It will be sad if it is not a good and fair event – with good winners and proud losers.’

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Manchester United chief executive David Gill is confident that Cristiano Ronaldo will extend his contract at Old Trafford this summer.

Ronaldo’s representatives are in talks with the club over extending the 22-year-old’s current deal, which runs until 2010.

“Discussions are ongoing so we’re not going to put a timeline against them,” Gill told BBC Radio Four. “The player wants to say, we want him to stay and I’m sure we’ll reach a satisfactory conclusion.”

Ronaldo has made no secret of a desire to one day play in Spain, but he has firmly stated that his immediate future is in Manchester.

“Every United fan can be reassured he won’t be leaving this summer,” added Gill. “It would be realistic to extend it by a further two years to 2012 – the same time that Wayne Rooney has signed for.”

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