Fergie's praise and personal touch has boosted Tevez's morale at Manchester United.

The Old Trafford boss has even described his summer signing as 'Strong as a lion and hard as nails'.

Tevez, 23, told The Sun: "The help I've had from Alex has been very important. I know he has total belief in me and I'm very grateful to him because of it. He called me a lion. He's started doing it at training because I turn up just after getting out of bed with my hair all messed up. And when my hair is like that, I look like a lion apparently!

"Sir Alex knows a lot about football and I'm learning a lot with him. He makes me feel relaxed and valued and he calls me by my first name."

Former Hammers boss Alan Pardew hardly picked Tevez and played him out of position.

But the former Corinthians ace eventually managed to win over Pards' successor Curbs and keep the Irons up as the row over his ownership raged.

However, Tevez is now looking to the future.

He added: "The main difference between United and West Ham is that the coach believes in me at my new club.

"I'm feeling physically stronger with every game. That makes me feel good and everything else, like scoring goals, comes as a result."

He added: "When I look around the dressing room and see my team-mates there, I realise I'm at one of the most important clubs in the world. That is a dream come true.

"The most surprising thing about the squad is even though all the players are stars, they are all actually really humble and are good people. They've made me feel good and I've now got various friends in the squad like Rio Ferdinand, Ryan Giggs, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney. We've been out a few times for meals and we have a good time together.

"Manchester is quite a small city and I don't go out much. But when I do, it's to eat with friends and family and there's this Italian restaurant I like. I'm doing quite well with my English now. The club forces me to speak it and I've got a teacher giving me lessons.

"I understand the boss and my team-mates perfectly."