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Top 25 Manchester United players of the Premier League era - #4

Sports Mole's countdown of the top 25 Manchester United players in Premier League history continues with number four - Cristiano Ronaldo.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United celebrates victory after the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final second leg match between FC Porto and Manchester United at the Estadio do Dragao on April 15, 2009© Getty Images

At a club which has boasted the likes of Sir Bobby Charlton, George Best and Eric Cantona amongst their former players, it takes a special talent to be regarded as arguably the best player to have ever worn a Manchester United shirt.

Cristiano Ronaldo can lay a strong claim to that title, and had he stayed with the club at the peak of his powers then he would be in very close contention to top this countdown.

The best player to play for Manchester United is different from the best Manchester United player, though, and Ronaldo's best years have come during a staggering spell at Real Madrid following his world-record £80m exit from Old Trafford in 2009.

The superstar that we see today was largely sculpted and fine-tuned in Manchester, though, and he showed a glimpse of the quality which has catapulted him into the debate for the greatest player in football history during the 2007-08 campaign which saw him score 42 goals in all competitions - including 31 in just 34 league games - as United won the Premier League and Champions League double.

That form saw Ronaldo win the first of his Ballon d'Or crowns - the first Premier League player to scoop the illustrious award since Michael Owen in 2001 - and the following season he added another league title and the League Cup to his trophy cabinet.

The Portugal international ended his Old Trafford career with three Premier League titles, one FA Cup, two League Cups and the Champions League among his nine trophies, and he left the club having completed his evolution from a trick-obsessed teenager to a genuine world-class player.

In all Ronaldo scored 118 goals in 292 appearances for United, including 84 in 196 Premier League outings.

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Written by
Barney Corkhill
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool14112129111835
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1585229151429
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Brentford157263128323
10Fulham156542220223
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155551921-220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton143561421-714
16Leicester CityLeicester153572130-914
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich151681427-139
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1523102338-159
20Southampton1512121131-205


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