Zoran Tosic knew Ronaldo was off and has prepared to fill his boots

Zoran Tosic has revealed Cristiano Ronaldo confided in his team-mates months ago that he wanted to quit Manchester United.

The Serbian winger, 22, says Ronaldo was on his way to Real Madrid long before his £80million transfer came to light a week ago.

Tosic, signed by manager Sir Alex Ferguson in January for £8m from Partizan Belgrade, is now keen to grab Ronaldo's first team slot next season.

But he admits it will be impossible to fill the Portuguese star's boots because he was "United's best player and will keep proving himself the best in the world".

Ronaldo told him well before the end of their title-winning campaign that he had won everything possible at Old Trafford, including a collection of individual accolades, and it was time to move on.

Tosic said: "Ronaldo told us he'd won all the awards and he wanted to try something else. I don't know if he had already signed for Real Madrid.

"He's going to be, yet again, the best player in the world.

"Last season he scored 42 goals, this time 27 and they all said it's his worst season, not enough! In Madrid he will be again the best.

"Cristiano was probably the best player in the team and so someone extra will come to take his place."

Tosic is currently battling in the Euro 2009 Under-21 championship with Serbia, ahead of United's pre-season training in a fortnight. He admitted: "I hope that I will get the chance and that I'm ready for it.

"So these few games are very important for me and then when we go on tour I hope I'm going to get a chance and I'm ready. I want to try to have a breakthrough."

Ferguson and his staff have had Tosic, who has 13 senior caps for his country, on a sixmonth strengthening programme. He is a star in the reserves and made three substitute appearances for United last season.

Tosic admits that he is now living his childhood dream and as a kid he told his junior coach he would play for United.

He said: "I have been a United fan since the 1999 European Cup. It was an incredible final.

"From that moment I was a United fan. I was watching at home with friends.

"Once when I was a kid and started football training I saw a picture of the national team of Serbia in the changing room and I said to the coach, 'I am going to stand there one day and I am going to be a Manchester United player, those are my two wishes'."

Serbia and United teammate Nemanja Vidic has taken Tosic under his wing, but it was still a culture shock.

He added: "In a few games for the reserves, the players kick me and I was wondering what is going on, I am going home, I cannot play here. Then I get through that, and now it's normal for me.

"My best position is on the wing, either one.

"My left foot is stronger but I can play on the right and come inside.

"The people from Manchester think I can play better on the left side. I agree."

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