Manchester United risk losing Cristiano Ronaldo if they choose Jose Mourinho as Sir Alex Ferguson's successor.

The Sunday Mirror says Mourinho is viewed as the perfect choice to step in when Ferguson decides to retire.

Rio Ferdinand's belief that the Inter Milan coach has the profile to take over from the most successful manager in United's history is echoed in the Old Trafford boardroom.

But Ferdinand's opinion is not shared by Ronaldo, who still hasn't forgiven his fellow Portuguese for branding him "uneducated" and "a liar" in a war of words between the two that took place in April 2007, when Mourinho was in charge of Chelsea.

At Old Trafford on Wednesday Mourinho made a very public show of hugging a number of United players at the final whistle. It was telling that Ronaldo was able to avoid his attentions.