“I saw with my own eyes the hierarchy among the Man Utd players in the dressing room”

Manchester United are struggling with a leadership vacuum, which was unheard of during Dimitar Berbatov's time at the club. And the Bulgarian hailed Cristiano Ronaldo as an example of his ability to establish himself at the top of the hierarchy.

Ruben Amorim was affected by the same problem that hit his predecessor Erik ten Hag. And the Red Devils are in dire need of influential figures as they head into Monday's Premier League match against Newcastle on a three-game losing streak.

However, having standout stars can be a double-edged sword, as Berbatov illustrates with his account of Ronaldo's tenure at the club. The 43-year-old recalled how Ronaldo imposed a certain level of treatment on his teammates, not through explicit demands, but through the sheer force of his presence.

“In football there is a hierarchy when someone like Ronaldo comes into the team, you give him the respect he deserves,” he told the Mirror in 2022. “It's all there, everything what he's accomplished, and I think it's up to him to talk to the players, give them advice and help them develop.

Berbatov praised Ronaldo's professionalism and the confidence he exuded. He said his former comrade “never missed a training session” and was “always sure of himself and his quality”.

Ronaldo's confidence and commitment obviously had a profound impact on his teammates during his first tenure at Old Trafford. His time under Sir Alex Ferguson was peppered with success, including three Premier League titles, the Champions League, a FIFA Club World Cup, an FA Cup and two League Cups.

He also won his first Ballon d'Or in 2008, the same year Berbatov joined United and shortly before his record-breaking move to Real Madrid. Despite only sharing a single season with the football legend, Berbatov gained enough knowledge to understand why Ronaldo was higher up in the team's hierarchy.

It wouldn't be the first time a United player has received preferential treatment at the Theater of Dreams. It is widely believed that Eric Cantona, known for his rebellious side, was exempt from Ferguson's typically strict methods because of his invaluable contributions elsewhere.

The new leader Amorim might also be inclined to make some concessions to the squad's current leadership. Or at least he could if those numbers on the team stood out a little more.