With the ability to match his marketing appeal, it is easy to understand why Cristiano Ronaldo is coveted by so many of Europe’s leading clubs. Everyone appears to want a piece of the Portuguese and at a raucous King Fahd Stadium here last night it was the turn of 65,000 Saudi Arabians to catch a glimpse of the man whom many believe to be the best player in the world.

United were here to play a testimonial against Al Hilal Al Saudi FC in honour of Sami Al Jaber, the former Saudi Arabia striker, but at times it seemed as though the locals had turned up to watch Ronaldo and his absorbing repertoire of tricks and flicks. Even the home team’s 3-2 win was not as warmly received as the Portugal winger.

There was a long pause before Ronaldo’s name was announced before kick-off and the reception that greeted it was even louder than the one reserved for Al Jaber. Ronaldo, in turn, seemed only too happy to play to the carnival crowd, scoring one goal and setting up another for Carlos Tévez before taking his leave at half-time.

For Sir Alex Ferguson, the hysteria may be more likely to evoke memories of the adulation that David Beckham received, but while that may be a perturbing thought for the United manager, he is desperate to keep his talisman in the long term, which is why the club are making preparations to suppress attempts to unsettle the player. Real Madrid made their intentions known again last week, when Pedrag Mijatovic, the club’s sporting director, announced that they would not give up trying to sign Ronaldo.

United believe that Real’s brazen courting of the player is unacceptable, but while the idea of loading a formal complaint to Fifa has been mooted, the club are thought to be ready to target the “outside influences” whom they believe are to blame for stoking the fires, rather than refer the matter to the sport’s world governing body.

A well-placed source at United told The Times: “Real Madrid’s remarks about Cristiano aren’t helpful, but they are getting their information from certain people whose credibility we intend to undermine.”

Although Al Hilal took a nineteenth-minute lead through Yasser Al Ghatane, Ronaldo stamped his authority on proceedings when teeing up Tévez for an equaliser before stealing in at the near post to head home Nani’s corner. Al Jaber made it 2-2 from the penalty spot before Bader Al Khoraeshe won the match with an overhead kick in the 79th minute.

Daniel Welbeck, a 17-year-old forward making his United debut, should have drawn the visiting team level but missed a penalty in the last minute, although Ferguson, who is expected to escape an FA charge over an alleged offensive gesture to Reading fans on Saturday, seemed more concerned with an illness to Ryan Giggs that ruled out the winger. Giggs had a fever but is expected to be fit for the FA Cup fourth-round tie against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Sunday.

United supporters’ groups have reacted angrily to the club’s refusal to remove a logo of AIG, their sponsor, on a memorial to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Munich air crash. Fans believe that United have reneged on their vow not to be viewed to be profiting from the anniversary on February 6 and inundated the club and AIG with complaints after the sponsor’s name appeared on a tribute photograph to the Busby Babes outside the East Stand at Old Trafford.

The official Manchester City Supporters’ Club has written to United and the Premier League warning against the decision to hold a minute’s silence for the Munich victims at the derby match on February 9.