Diego Maradona made a guest appearance at Manchester United's training ground, leaving the players and even the manager star-struck ahead of their crucial Premier League match with Arsenal.

The World-Cup winner presented Rio Ferdinand with a signed shirt as a 30th birthday present as he continued his tour of Europe following his appointment as Argentina manager.

Maradona, accompanied by assistant Carlos Bilardo, went to Carrington to meet Carlos Tevez, who, along with Liverpool's Javier Mascherano, are expected to play a major part of in the new manager's plans. However, his visit left United's players, and especially Ferdinand impressed.

"We were like schoolkids around a star coming to school," Ferdinand said. "In my eyes he is the best footballer ever. He is one of my heroes, if not the shining beacon when I was a kid. I had all his videos. He was the player everyone wanted to be.

"He was been the best. He was my idol and part of the reason why I started to play football. I can't hold him in higher esteem than that. To be able to shake his hand, get a cuddle of him and a picture, it made my birthday."

Ferdinand said there was an extra competitiveness around training, which did not go unnoticed by Sir Alex Ferguson, the United manager.

"I think the gaffer would probably like him to come every day the way he raised standards in training," Ferdinand said. "Everyone was trying to impress him. I hope he will go back to Argentina and say he's seen a great player - Rio Ferdinand!"

Ferguson can understand the reaction because he still regards Maradona among the game's greatest players.

"It was good. The players were all delighted to see him," Ferguson said. "It is arguable who is the best player in the world but without a doubt, he is in the best two or three."