In the end, he decided to introduce a slim, dark-haired lad who had not long turned 17.

No-one really knew much about him, other than he had cost in excess of £12m (€17.7m), had impressed many of his new team-mates when he played against them for Sporting Lisbon in a pre-season friendly a couple of weeks earlier and was entrusted with the famous number seven shirt most recently vacated by David Beckham. His name? Cristiano Ronaldo.

It is fair to say Ronaldo has grown up quite a bit in those intervening years. Aspects of his game have been modified and improved.

He doesn’t dive so much now. He has become used to being kicked on a regular basis, and, of course, jeered by fans who initially disliked him because he helped get Wayne Rooney sent off at the World Cup, but now recognise what a threat he poses to their own team.

Essentially though, Ronaldo remains the same free spirit who came off the bench at Old Trafford that day and within the space of half an hour ravaged a Bolton side who pride themselves on durability and defensive effectiveness.

Within 15 spellbinding minutes he had won United a penalty – Ruud van Nistelrooy missed it – and helped set up a second for Giggs. A sign of things to come and no mistake.

In crowning Ronaldo as their player of the year – and young player of the year - the Professional Footballers’ Association have fuelled a growing belief Ronaldo is currently the best player on the planet.

Such accolades are, of course, totally subjective. After all, how can you compare the merits of men such as Pele and Diego Maradona, widely accepted to be the best two players of all time, with others like Franz Beckenbauer or our own Bobby Moore, whose roles were so different.

Much more importantly, what the PFA have done is honour a player who has the capacity to excite and enthral, someone fans would pay to watch.

In his own way, Didier Drogba has been just as influential in Chelsea’s season as Ronaldo has for United. And, with the major prizes still to be handed out, there is an argument that individual accolades at this present moment in time are fairly meaningless.

But, in terms of sheer watchability, Ronaldo is a man on his own.

Quick, tall, strong, blessed with balance of balletic proportions, able to shoot with both feet, go past defenders on both sides and head the ball as well.

Ronaldo’s mental strength can never be questioned again given the way he has come through the taunts and attacks which followed his World Cup row with Rooney.

Combine those qualities with an ability to score crucial goals at crucial times and you truly have a player who has got the lot.

What really separates him from other greats of United’s recent past, and specifically Eric Cantona, is that he appears to be able to transfer his skills onto any stage and remain equally effective.

It was Ronaldo who was a major influence behind Portugal’s run to the final of Euro 2004 and, at an obvious cost to England, the semi-finals of the last World Cup.

It is Ronaldo who has contributed 16 goals to United’s title drive this season.

And it is Ronaldo who supplied two goals and two assists in the Red Devils’ astonishing seven-goal rout of Roma.

No wonder Alex Ferguson has just handed him a five-year contract worth £31m (€45.6m).

One day, almost certainly, Ronaldo will leave Old Trafford to pursue his long-held dream of playing in La Liga.

For now, Premiership fans should be happy he is one of them.

Even in this world of hype and spin, Ronaldo is a very rare talent indeed.