Manchester United defender Rafael da Silva has insisted he is prepared to face former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo in the Champions League tomorrow night.
The Brazilian full-back spent one season playing alongside Ronaldo at Old Trafford, before the Portuguese winger moved to Real Madrid for £80 million in 2009.
Rafael, who has enjoyed a breakthrough season in Sir Alex Ferguson"s side, will come up against his former colleague at the Bernabeu on Wednesday night.
However, the 22-year-old does not believe that Ronaldo will offer something he has not seen at close quarters before.
Rafael told reporters: “I know what he can do because I played and trained with him a lot.
“So he"s not the type of opponent where you would say ‘he"s good but I don"t know what he can do". I know what he can do.
“If you concentrate, that"s the key, reading the game. For me, he"s the best player in the world.
“I think he"s the complete player and I really like him. I think he"s the number one. I"m sure he"ll get a good reception back here [at Old Trafford]. I think it"ll be massive."
United"s mouth-watering last-16 duel against Los Blancos is scheduled to kick-off at 19:45 BST tomorrow.
