A Manchester United cult hero under Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford has spoken out about the significant change that he has spotted in the football landscape.
Sir Alex Ferguson has been out of football management since 2013 after the legendary former Manchester United manager stepped down from his role.
The 83-year-old Scotsman led United to their last Premier League title in the 2012-13 season before he bowed out of Old Trafford and retired from football.
Ferguson is widely regarded as one of the best managers of all time and the Scot enjoyed an incredible career in England with United and in Scotland with Aberdeen.
During his remarkable reign at Old Trafford, Ferguson lifted 13 Premier League titles, two Champions League trophies, five FA Cups and four League Cups with United.
Ferguson’s illustrious 26-year managerial spell at United also included leading the Red Devils to a famous continental treble win in the 1998-99 campaign.
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Nani played under Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford and the former Manchester United winger arrived at Old Trafford in 2007 after he was signed from Sporting CP.
The 38-year-old United cult hero shared the pitch with Cristiano Ronaldo during his time at the Premier League club and during his spell with the Portugal national team.
Nani, who called it time on his playing career in 2024, also crossed paths with Barcelona and Argentina icon Lionel Messi when he was still at United.
The former Portugal international insisted that a “difference” was noticeable straight away in football after Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi “dropped off the radar.”
Speaking to Portuguese newspaper O Jogo, Nani said: “He’s [Ronaldo] a machine, he’s a different player and you can tell by the level he’s reached in football.
“We criticise Ronaldo and Messi a lot, but the day they retire, football won’t be the same.
“The fact that they’ve dropped off the radar of the best clubs made a difference straight away. We have to make the most of it while they’re still on the pitch.”
Man Utd legend Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona icon Lionel Messi head towards the late stage of their respective incredible careers
Cristiano Ronaldo committed his future to Al Nassr and the 40-year-old Portuguese forward inked a brand-new deal with the Saudi Pro League side in June.
The United legend has been with the Saudi Arabia-based club since 2023 after his second spell at Old Trafford ended in 2022, with Ronaldo signing as a free agent.
Lionel Messi, meanwhile, has been at Inter Miami since 2023 after he left Paris Saint-Germain and completed a free transfer to Sir David Beckham’s co-owned MLS side.
The 38-year-old Argentine superstar is out of contract in December and it remains to be seen if Messi signs a new deal with Inter Miami ahead of the 2026 World Cup.