Brazilian football legend Ronaldo has claimed that the late Sir Bobby Robson was "like a father" to him and the other players he coached.
Ronaldo was signed by Robson, who died of lung cancer at the age of 76 back in 2009, at Barcelona when the Brazilian was 20 years of age.
In recognition of Robson's influence on Ronaldo, the retired footballer donated a signed Brazil shirt to the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.
"It makes me feel happy to hear how highly Sir Bobby talked about me because he's a legend of football," the Daily Mail quotes Ronaldo as saying. "I'm proud to have worked with him. He was an awesome coach and an awesome person. He was like a father to me.
"I have had a lot of managers in football but the difference between all of them and Sir Bobby was his humanity and the relationships he had with the players. He was always like a father to everyone."
The duo worked together for just eight months.
