CRISTIANO RONALDO at age 18 once taught a group of youngsters including Jesse Lingard, skills in training.

The baby-faced Portuguese ace had just arrived at Old Trafford for £12.24million in 2003, only days after wowing then-United boss Alex Ferguson in a pre-season friendly for Sporting Lisbon.

Cristiano Ronaldo met Manchester United kids including Jesse Lingard (closest right of Ronaldo) at age 10

The youngsters were in awe of the Portuguese icon’s slick skills

To show off their flashy new purchase, Old Trafford sent the hotshot to teach their academy prospects a thing or two.

Among the gaggle of youngsters, another rising star can surprisingly be spotted.

None other than Red Devils star Jesse Lingard at just 10-years-old features in the video, looking on in awe at Ronaldo’s fast feet and slick skills in a training session.

In the clip, the teenage Ronaldo, who didn’t know English at the time, highlights his strengths as a tactician on the field.

He said: “I think it’s just the way I play. Ever since I was a youngster in Madeira, I’ve always been a player that enjoys taking someone on one on one.”

“It’s in my nature and I’ve always done this.”

Old Trafford icon and former boss Sir Alex Ferguson can also be seen in the video, singing the praises of his shiny, new acquisition.

Fergie said: “His speed with the ball on either foot, manipulating it, making decisions in and outside of full-backs, playing in other positions everything done at great speed.”

“I think that was the thing that made me sit up.”

In the video, Lingard’s gaze is glued to Ronaldo’s signature step-overs, which the Portuguese ace has revealed he was told to cut-out by Fergie because he did too many of in his early Old Trafford days.

Ronaldo then went toe to toe in a match with the youngsters but gave them a head start.

Never in his wildest dreams did the Juventus marksman know the tiny kid would turn out to be a star and that one day they would be facing off on the big stage.

15-years after their first-ever meeting, the stars faced off in a Champions League clash between Juve and United.

Ronaldo scored a stunning opener, but Lingard had the last laugh as United scored two in the final five minutes to win the game 2-1.

The Red Devils ace even took to twitter to post a sly dig at the Portugal icon’s celebration.

Ronaldo stayed at United for six spectacular years, winning the Premier League three times and the Champions League once.

And Lingard – who grew up watching the Portuguese maestro play for his boyhood side – hopes that one day his idol will come back to Old Trafford so they star alongside each other.

The academy graduate told the Mirror last summer: “I would love [United] to sign Ronaldo,

“He has been one of the best players in the world over the last decade.

“He has been here before, so he would slot right back in.

“Growing up he was just unbelievable to watch in a United shirt, so on a personal note it would be amazing to play with him.”