Barcelona ace Deco has jumped to the defence of Portugal teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Manchester United ace invoked the ire of Roma players last week with his dazzling skill, but Deco insists he wasn't showboating: "I have heard some people have criticised his play in the match against Roma.

"This is how Ronaldo plays. It's part of his game. He does not want to humiliate anyone. The only thing he wants is that football becomes beautiful, rather than ugly.

"People have fun watching the quality players, that is what Cristiano intends."