EXCLUSIVE: Cristiano Ronaldo pays tribute to 'the best manager in the world'

Cristiano Ronaldo missed the big party, but has still delivered his debt of gratitude to “the best manager in the world.”

Sir Alex Ferguson’s 25th ­anniversary as Manchester ­United manager falls today.

Last Thursday the great and the good enjoyed a party with the grand daddy of managers.

Yesterday’s win over ­Sunderland was the day the club renamed the towering North Stand after Ferguson and announced a statue will be unveiled at Old Trafford in his honour next summer.

Oh, and in a scrappy game United beat ­Sunderland 1-0 thanks to an own goal from Wes Brown, who spent 15 years at Old ­Trafford ­before ­joining the Black Cats last summer.

From Real Madrid the words of Ronaldo, the world’s most ­expensive player, were heartfelt and genuine.

He said: “I wanted to go the party. It was amazing for Sir Alex. He’s had such an amazing career and he keeps going. ­Because of our ­training ­schedules I couldn’t make it. That’s why I was desperate to speak to him on the phone.

“Unfortunately I couldn’t get through so I told chief executive David Gill to pass on my ­congratulations for all Sir Alex has achieved. He is a fantastic manager. He helped me so much in my career.”

Fergie made Ronaldo into the thrilling striker Real Madrid paid £80million for in July 2009.

The Portuguese superstar went on: “Sir Alex has a special place in my life. In fact, he was the main man. I was not famous, I was not a star. I arrived at Old Trafford as just another young talent.

“He was the one who told me to do all the right things. He gave me the opportunity to play in one of the biggest clubs in the world.

“So he is one of the most important people in the world for me.”

Intriguingly, Ronaldo is now coached by Jose Mourinho, the man many people predict will eventually succeed Sir Alex.

So who does Ronaldo rate as the best boss in the world?

He said:“You can’t tell the difference. They are ­incomparable. They have different ideas, ­different opinions. For me they are both the best in the world.

“I worked with Sir Alex for a few years and I know he deserves ­everything that he has achieved in his career. He works so hard, he is clever, he has experience, he is a human guy.

“Mourinho is similar, but he is younger. I have worked for a while with Mourinho now too so I’m entitled to say they are both very special. It’s not just Mourinho who’s special. They’re both ­special! This is why I like them both so much.”

Ferguson admitted the news that the North Stand had been renamed in his honour had stunned him.

He said: “I was emotional when David Gill ­announced it to the fans before the game. I didn’t have a clue the club was planning to do that. It’s a fantastic honour.

“The occasion got to the ­players and it was a long day for me as well.

“The last 15 minutes went on forever and Sunderland threw ­everything at us.”