Ronaldo: Lettuce be fit for victory

Ronaldo team-mate reveals: United stars refuse to eat puddings after seeing his healthy meals

YOUNG BOYS v MANCHESTER UNITED GROUP F, KICK-OFF 5.45PM

CRISTIANO RONALDO is whipping his Manchester United team-mates into shape – with players refusing to eat dessert in front of the super-fit star.

Ronaldo is known for keeping himself in peak physical condition and, because of his influence, none of his colleagues will now dare to order pudding at the team hotel the night before a

game. Old Trafford keeper Lee Grant underlined the example set by United’s summer signing.

“To give you one instance of the impact he’s having on the group, this was Friday night in the hotel,” said Grant (above). “You finish your dinner and usually you’ve got some cheat stuff out. You’ve got some apple crumble and custard or you’ve got a bit of brownie and cream.

“I tell you now, not one player touched the apple crumble and custard, not one player went up for that brownie.

“One of the lads said to me: ‘What’s Cristiano got on his plate?’ We were having a little goosey gander at what he’s got and obviously it’s the cleanest, most healthy plate you can imagine.

“It just cracked me up, how not one single player dared get up and have the junk food that was laid out. I’ll tell you one of his plates – he had several. One of them was quinoa, avocado and a couple of boiled eggs.”

United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer laughed off Grant’s health-nut story but said Ronaldo’s discipline and dedication was an example to the rest of the squad.

“That was obviously a joke by Granty, in a setting with some mates and ex-players,” said Solskjaer, who watched former Real Madrid star Ronaldo score twice on his emotional United return in the 4-1 win over Newcastle at Od Trafford.

“It’s not like we’re lined up with junk food and Cristiano changed it.

“He’s proven over the years how to look after yourself, how to prolong your career,

“When you retire, it’s the best time of your life, but I’d say stay in the game as long as you can, have a good attitude, and then let yourself go as I’ve done now!”