"He had a nice presence about him, and a good attitude," Roy Keane wrote about a young, up and coming Cristiano Ronaldo.
It seems clear to all who have worked alongside the five-time Ballon d'Or winner that his astonishing mentality that inspired him to the very top of the game has never left him - from his early days at Manchester United to the lofty heights of winning three successive Champions League titles with Real Madrid.
Now back in the iconic red of United, Ronaldo's triumphant return has gone sour amid reports that the 37-year-old has told the Old Trafford hierarchy he wishes to leave for a club that actually suits his ambition.
Despite this, those at the top of United's pecking order have stood firm in their stance that Ronaldo is not for sale and will - at the very least - see out the last season of the two-year contract he penned last summer.
It has sparked debate among fans and pundits alike as to whether keeping an unhappy Ronaldo around the place will actually be detrimental to the cause and undermine the overhaul new manager Erik ten Hag is trying to oversee.
"I cannot wait for (Ronaldo) to come in and then we will integrate him," Ten Hag stated, addressing the fact he is yet to actually work with the Portugal skipper after he reported back to the club for pre-season training later than expected - citing 'family reasons' as the explanation behind his absence.
Keane's assessment of Ronaldo's character could actually serve as a better explanation as to why Ten Hag is so keen on keeping the 37-year-old forward for another term.
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Writing in The Second Half, the Irishman's second autobiography, Keane discussed his initial impressions of Ronaldo. The former Red Devils captain said: "I liked the lad straightaway. He had a nice presence about him, and a good attitude.
"After the first few days, watching him train, my reaction was, ‘This lad is going to be one of the world’s greatest players.’ I didn’t say it publicly, because I’d always be wary of building a player up too early – or knocking him down. He was very likeable."
In what was a horrific season last time round by United's high standards, Ronaldo was a rare shining light with 24 goals across all competitions for one of the worst Red Devils sides in recent memory.
With that in mind, the lack of interest in taking Ronaldo off of United's hands has come as quite the surprise. European giants such as Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid were linked with the superstar before distancing themselves from moves for the superstar striker.
