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Manchester United legend Ruud van Nistelrooy has played down his training ground fall-out with Cristiano Ronaldo.

Van Nistelrooy arrived at United in 2001, becoming one of the most lethal strikers in the world.

When Ronaldo joined the club in 2003 as a youngster, he and van Nistelrooy did not always get along, with a training incident eventually resulting in the latter's departure.

While speaking on The Overlap to Gary Neville, van Nistelrooy commented on the matter.

People talk about the Ronaldo situation a lot don't they," Neville said.

I was frustrated at the time because I was used to playing with David (Beckham). It was telepathy, we knew exactly what he was going to do. Then Cristiano came and it was different. He was running everywhere he would dribble, he would be unpredictable.

Did you feel frustration with Cristiano?' Neville then asked.

Van Nistelrooy stated: It got a bit out of hand with that situation. I think the way we are in a relationship Cristiano and I is fine, now, in general. It's been really blown up

It was an argument in training. That's the story but in the end we figured it out together and we moved on and the relationship is perfect.

It was a transition moment in the team with younger guys. Rooney came, Ronaldo came, young promising guys. We needed some time to adjust.

I would also talk to me now if I was coaching. I would say 'this is a transition moment, you need to have patience with these young guys' We didn't have patience."

This article first appeared on Tribal Football and was syndicated with permission.

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