Sir Alex Ferguson has told new striker Nick Powell he can follow Cristiano Ronaldo's route to the first team at Manchester United.
Powell is joining United from Crewe in a deal which could be worth up to 6million and Fergie has high hopes for the 18-year-old striker.
He believes he can break into his first-team squad and pointed to the success Ronaldo had when he moved to Old Trafford in 2003 at a similar age.
Dario Gradi, who is now Crewe's director of football and academy director, says Fergie convinced Powell to sign for him during a chat.
"Alex convinced Nick that if he does well enough early doors, maybe if he goes on as a substitute, like Ronaldo in his early days there, then he would pick him," said Gradi.
"He said that when Ronaldo first went to United he was fantastic when he went on as a sub and so he picked him and he was equally fantastic when he started a game.
"His agent was, quite rightly, considered whether this was a step too far, too soon, and that he should have a step in between.
"But to me that wasn’t an option. You don’t get a chance to go to Manchester United very often and this was a chance I thought he had to take.
"If he had asked me I would have said 'Nick you need to go to Manchester United’ which is something I have never done before with a player because I’ve always let them decide."
Gradi says Fergie went all the way to Torquay to scout Powell and knew straight away he is a real talent.
"Alex Ferguson went to watch Nick play at Torquay I think it was and then he came to watch him at Gresty Road when he didn’t play quite so well," said Gradi.
"Anyway he rang me the next day to say do you want to do a deal?’ I said ‘of course, we want to do a deal'.
"He said to me, 'I wanted to see him. He is athletic he’s a good size, he’s good physically and he’s bright, he knows where people are around him. His clever with his play, he’s not just twinkle toes'.
"Nick’s got a brain and a desire and Alex spotted it on the strength of one outing."
Раз сам САФ его захотел, то будет давать ему шанс засветится в основе.
