Gary Neville pinpoints main reason for Cristiano Ronaldo criticism at Man United this season

Gary Neville has hailed the "exceptional" Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo for continuing to perform at the highest level, despite criticism.

United's topsy-turvy season has seen plenty of critics come in the direction of 37-year-old, despite him playing a key role in maintaining United's run in the Champions League.

Ronaldo and his teammates have been slammed by various pundits, with some suggesting the club were wrong to bring him back.

But former United full-back Neville claimed that the Portuguese icon's performances, while not at the heights he hit in his first United spell, have still been very impressive.

"Absolutely, 2005-06 to 2009 he was something I've never seen, out of this world. Obviously went to Real Madrid and went on to do unbelievable things there," he said on The Overlap YouTube channel.

Neville continued: "What he's doing now is still exceptional to be fair, at the age that he is, 37 years of age to be scoring the goals, the fitness levels, games he plays, goals he's scoring.

"At the moment, it's not going well at United, when the s*** hits the fan, everyone gets a bit and he's getting a bit as well.

"That's likely because he's the greatest player in the world, you can't just turn it off and expect you're not going to get the flak when it comes flying and he is getting some flak at the moment, as they all are.

"But, back then in that four-year period, he was probably the best player.

"I always say Roy [Keane], Scholesy, Giggsy are the best three players I've played with at Manchester United for longevity, there for so long doing so many great things but Cristiano in that three-four year block, I've never seen anything like it in my life."

The Overlap is a YouTube channel from Gary Neville