DARREN FLETCHER has lifted the lid on how Cristiano Ronaldo ignored the mocking of his Manchester United teammates in his quest to become the best player in the world.

Former United star Fletcher shared a dressing room with Ronaldo for years when they were both making their way in the game from promising youngsters to seasoned regulars.

And he admitted Juventus ace Ronaldo was a different breed from the rest in the Old Trafford squad with his focus on establishing himself as a footballing great.

He was snapped up as an 18-year-old from Sporting Lisbon for A$22.5million, and despite his tender years he brought his own ideas to United training and didn’t care what others thought.

Fletcher, speaking on Sky’s Monday night Football, said: “Ronaldo had a mindset that he was going to be the best player in the world from the first day he came into the club.

“He ramped up training early on. At first people loved the desire but he did get stick for it.

“People respected it and liked that mentality of wanting to be the best.

“There were times he was putting ankle weights on for training, doing fast feet and the lads were laughing at him. But it didn’t deter him.”

Fletcher, 34, also heaped praise on Wayne Rooney for the impact he made on the game for United.

The midfielder watched Rooney settle in at Old Trafford and then go on to become their highest ever goalscorer - and is miffed by the criticism the former England captain gets.

Fletcher added: “Wayne was fantastic. We were two of the youngest in the dressing room and we built up a good relationship early.

“We had similar backgrounds and we clicked.

“You could tell he was going to go on to be a Manchester United great. The only worry was whether a Real Madrid or someone would come in for him.

“I don’t think he gets the appreciation he deserves. People don’t realise how good he was for United.’