GARY Neville this week described his old Manchester United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo as a monster and a bully.

When I saw the original headlines I assumed Sir Alex had sent his trusty henchman out to stir the pot ahead of the Red Devils’ trip to the Bernabeu in the Champions League tonight.

But rather than riling the Portuguese winger with schoolyard abuse, Neville was actually being complimentary, and possibly setting up the Old Trafford outfit for a fall.

The former Manchester United full-back admits he was initially frustrated by Ronaldo’s refusal to conform to the British way when they first started playing together.

Used to having David Beckham in front of him, tracking back and doubling up on the right, Neville was often left exposed as a young Ronaldo went AWOL in search of space and time on the ball.

But his opinion was transformed over time.

“By the end of Ronaldo’s Manchester United career I was willing him not to chase back so he was free,” Neville told the BBC.

“He just decided his own position, which was based upon where the space was and who was the weak link. He made me realise you didn’t always need to be in your shape.

“We had a player who was beyond a level of talent I had ever seen. He would go and win us game after game. I suppose that is more important.”

As Neville describes it, the “monster” Ronaldo preys upon the weak link in defences.

That trick earned the Portuguese a staggering 31 goals in 31 Premier League starts in 2007/08 – regarded as being his best season at United.

To me, at that time, he seemed to physically grow in stature with the confidence that was clearly coursing through his veins.

The self-belief he was the best player in the country was regarded as arrogance by many, but who could argue with him?

He, of course, can’t claim that mantle in Spain, where Lionel Messi rules the roost, but his La Liga scoring statistics are mightily impressive all the same.

Ronaldo claimed 26 goals in 28 La Liga starts in his first season at Real Madrid, 40 in 32 in 2010/11, 46 in 37 last season and 21 in 21 so far this campaign.

Sir Alex is apparently considering asking Phil Jones to man-mark Ronaldo tonight, but, according to Neville, it will be the Madrid star who picks his prey.

And woe betide anyone who gets in his way.