Ronaldo during his Manchester United days
Ronaldo played for seven seasons at Manchester United before joining Real Madrid REUTERS

Manchester United legend Cristiano Ronaldo is the Premier League's greatest ever player according to Stiliyan Petrov.

The Portuguese ace is widely considered one of the finest players in Manchester United's rich history following his stellar spell at Old Trafford between 2003 and 2009.

Ronaldo played an instrumental role in Manchester United's 2008 Champions League win and was a key figure in three Premier League title winning campaigns. He won countless individual accolades under the careful nurturing of Sir Alex Ferguson, including the Ballon d'Or in 2008, and the aforementioned Aston Villa captain believes he is the finest footballer to have ever graced the Premier League.

Speaking to the latest issue of Match of the Day magazine, Petrov suggests the Manchester United hero was unplayable at times, intimating the Old Trafford icon had all the necessary attributes required to thrive in England.

"(Manchester United icon) Ronaldo." Petrov told Match of the Day magazine when asked about the Premier League's greatest ever player.

"If you put all his years together at Manchester United and look at his strength, technique and speed - that's all the stages that the Premier League has gone through and he's got all of them.

"He's the best player."

Ronaldo scored 118 goals in 292 games in his remarkable Manchester United career before he left to join Real Madrid in the summer of 2009. The transfer remains the most lucrative in football history, with the £80 million fee received by Manchester United yet to to be surpassed.

The Christmas issue of Match of the Day Magazine is on sale now, priced at £4.99.

Manchester United FC Real Madrid