London, July 28 : Footie ace Cristiano Ronaldo has been allotted a 'love minder' by his very worried club Manchester United.

The Portuguese winger has been soaking up the sun as he holidays in the US following ankle surgery.

However, with reports that he's been living it up with women and booze, ManU boss Sir Alex Ferguson is said to be none too pleased. But Fergie has vehemently defended Ronaldo against claims he is becoming a celeb playboy.

He revealed that the cast on Ronaldo's foot would only come off a week after after his return to Manchester to start his rehabilitation.

Fergie also played down reports of Ronaldo drinking and getting lucky with the ladies.

"It's a load of rubbish. He's not a drinker for a start. There was a report he had been drinking vodka. I've got someone with him there. I phoned my friend who's with him and he says: 'Boss, there's no truth in that,'" the Daily Star quoted him, as saying.

"Ronaldo doesn't drink. We know he doesn't drink. He was always scheduled to have this time off in Los Angeles. There was no harm in going there. He was doing a commercial thing.

"Any young player is going to get attention. The important thing is how he handles that.

"We know that success changes people but the change you like to see is an elevation in their own esteem and personality which, a lot of the time, makes them better players."

"As far as comparisons with him and David Beckham are concerned, I am not going to discuss that.

"But Cristiano is now reaching that stage when his maturity, his personality and his presence he has on the world stage is developing and we should help him,'' he said.

ANI