MANCHESTER UNITED legend Cristiano Ronaldo has been tipped to become manager of the club in the future.

Former United strength and conditioning coach Mick Clegg, who got on well with Ronaldo, backs him to take the Old Trafford hot seat one day.

Clegg spent 11 years at United and became a close ally of Ronaldo’s, who walked into the gym as an 18-year-old and told Clegg he planned to become the best player in the world.

He said: “I think he’d want to have a go as a manager.

“I tell you what, he’s watched a lot of managers, hasn’t he? And he’s seen a lot of problems with them. He knows the good ones and he knows the bad ones.

“I think he’d be special as a manager, because he’s open-minded, he listens to people. He knows himself, but he also knows what goes on around him.”

Ronaldo, who recently retired from international duties, could well be eyeing a career in management after he hangs his boots up at domestic level.

And while he’s not in the running for a management job right now, the United post looks set to be open soon.

Michael Carrick is under extreme pressure and looks set to be sacked soon.

His future is set to be determined at a meeting of the club’s much-maligned hierarchy in Monaco on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, USA national team boss Mauricio Pochettino is the hot favourite to take over.

However there are a host of options for United, who look all but ready to appoint their eighth permanent manager since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson.