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Ronaldo is 'same as Schwarzenegger' - Queiroz

Cristiano Ronaldo received the Golden Boot award as Europe's top goalscorer last season © Getty Images

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Cristiano Ronaldo is a perfectionist to rival Arnold Schwarzenegger, according to former Manchester United assistant Carlos Queiroz.

Queiroz praised Golden Boot-winner Ronaldo, whom he coached for both United and Portugal, for his attention to detail and compared him favourably with Schwarzenegger, the bodybuilder, actor and former governor of California.

"It was rare to see in a young player so much talent and such a strong personality, purpose, persistence and commitment," Queiroz told FourFourTwo. "I read about Arnold Schwarzenegger learning to dance the tango - he was obsessed with being a perfectionist. Cristiano is the same.

"I was once in my office at Carrington and saw something moving in the trees far away. Maybe it was a spy - we used to have them. I called Security and asked. They came back to me and said: 'It's Cristiano Ronaldo. He's training alone.' He is unique as a footballer."

Ronaldo, who joined United in 2003, went on to score 118 goals in 292 games for the Old Trafford side and now has 274 in 262 for Real Madrid. His performances for Real last season saw him receive the Golden Boot award as Europe's top goal scorer in a ceremony on Wednesday.

Ronaldo said he plans to be remembered as one of the best players of all time after sharing the prize with Barcelona striker Luis Suarez, who also scored 31 goals last season in his final year Liverpool.

It is the third Golden Boot award for Ronaldo, who also won the prize when at United in 2007-08 with 31 goals and earlier in his Madrid career in 2010-11 with 40. The forward said it was special to be recognised again, and that he aimed to keep performing at such a level for many years.

"Winning the third Golden Boot feels just like winning the first," Ronaldo said. "I am very happy, this is a very special day. I always try to do things well, not just last season. I always want more. The last five years my numbers have been very good. The last two were a bit better.

"I am not happy with being the best in Portugal. I want to be the best ever, I will work to do that. Then it depends on each individual's opinion. In my profession I want to be always the best, I am making my history step by step. When my career ends I want to look at the statistics and see that I am among the best players ever. I am sure I will be."

Queiroz, meanwhile, also denied responsibility for United's infamous signing of Bebe in 2010 - saying he had not even heard of the winger.

United paid £7.4 million to bring in the Portuguese forward, who had only joined Vitoria de Guimaraes on a free transfer a few weeks earlier. Sir Alex Ferguson admitted it was the first time he signed a player without watching him and Bebe never started a league game during his time at Old Trafford.

Queiroz had two spells as Ferguson's assistant manager, was in charge of Portugal at the time when Bebe joined United and shares an agent, Jorge Mendes, with the 24-year-old and it led to suggestions he was involved in the surprise transfer.

Queiroz, however, claimed he had know knowledge of the player and even called his Portugal assistants to ask why he had not featured on the national team's radar.

"Bebe was not even part of our scouting files for the national team of Portugal," Queiroz said. "He didn't exist, in a system where nothing escaped us.

"So Bebe going to Man United took me by surprise. I called my coaches and asked them was what going on, why he didn't exist. I knew nothing about him."

Bebe, who had only previously played lower-division football in Portugal, made seven appearances for United in total and was then loaned to Besiktas, Rio Ave and Pacos de Ferreira before his eventual departure to Benfica this summer.

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