Boss: I'd pay to watch Ronaldo

Sir Alex Ferguson claims Cristiano Ronaldo has answered his World Cup critics in the perfect fashion, by turning in world class performances this season.

The Portuguese winger has been a revelation this term, although he was the subject of unwanted media coverage at the start of December for an alleged dive at Middlesbrough.

The gaffer insists, however, that the 21-year-old has merely been the victim of a witch hunt and continues to stand by his assertion that Ronaldo did not dive at the Riverside.

"He's answered all the questions, the lad," he told his pre-Wigan press conference. "There's one blip and I think the press had a part to play in that, that was the supposed dive at the Middlesbrough game.

"But it was never a dive, he stumbled. Who would dismiss the opportunity to score an open goal? That is the one blip in the sense of people trying to accuse him of diving."

Sir Alex claims Ronaldo's evolution as a player since the World Cup has been sensational, and he struggled to think of a better entertainer in world football at the moment.

"He's matured and he's responsible," he said. "His performances have been world class and he's the one player I'd love to pay money to see play."