Ronaldo backs Owen to shine at United

Cristiano Ronaldo believes Michael Owen will prove a fine replacement for him in the Manchester United number seven shirt.

United brought in England striker Owen, a free agent after leaving Newcastle, to help fill the void left by Ronaldo's world record £80million move to Real Madrid.

Owen, 29, is looking to get his career back on track after falling down the England pecking order during four injury-ravaged years on Tyneside and Ronaldo expects him to make an impact at Old Trafford.

"Manchester United did well to give him the number seven," the Portuguese star said.

"He is a great player, an English player. He has everything to win there. He is at a fantastic club."

Ronaldo had been heavily linked with a move to the Bernabeu for around two years before United finally sanctioned his sale this summer.

Yet despite the 24-year-old's obvious excitement at signing for the Spanish giants, he insists leaving United was not an easy decision.

"I arrived at Manchester when I was 18 years old and I'd been there six years and I think it's a lot of time," he said.

"I won many things there, collective and individual trophies and awards, and I met very good people there, good friends - so it's not easy you know.

"Life is a challenge and I'm a man of challenges. I think it's a good move."

Ronaldo heads an impressive new wave of 'galacticos' to sign for Real Madrid this summer.

His move, plus those of Karim Benzema and Kaka from Lyon and AC Milan respectively, have taken Real's summer spending past the £180million mark.

There have been claims that the arrival of so many big-money stars may lead to friction in the dressing room but Ronaldo insists there are no problems in that regard.

"It is much better than what I expected," said Ronaldo, in Dublin ahead of Real's pre-season friendly against Shamrock Rovers next week.

"I am very happy to be in this working group.

"The players have made me very, very welcome and it is very important the way that they have welcomed me.

"You can read whatever in the papers, but when I am with Real Madrid the atmosphere is fantastic and I'd like to thank my colleagues for that."