The following correction was printed in the Guardian's Corrections and clarifications column, Saturday January 27 2007

The article below was wrong in claiming Eric Cantona as a member of the Manchester United team that won the treble of European Cup, Premership and FA Cup in 1999. Cantona retired from top-level football in 1997.

Eric Cantona's No7 shirt is now being worn with pride by Cristiano Ronaldo. And the Frenchman is a huge fan of his successor.

He said: "Ronaldo needed to gain some experience and needed to score goals, and now he is a world-class player. It can be difficult for him [the abuse] from supporters of other clubs, but not from the supporters of Manchester United. He plays for them and he is one of the family. It is exactly the same case with Wayne Rooney."

Cantona, who was speaking at the ICE Exhibition at Earls Court in London yesterday, says the current United team could emulate the feat of the 1999 Treble-winning team.

"They are strong, but they have to prove they are a great team. They can do it [win the treble] and they need to do it," he said. "Last year United had a new team and it was a new generation. But I was sure they would become the best because you are stronger when you start with a new generation of players."

United's assistant manager, Carlos Queiroz, has shrugged off reported interest from Real Madrid in Ronaldo. Spanish press reports suggested Ronaldo will be a summer target for Real but Queiroz insists the 21-year-old is not for sale."In addition to that," he added, "we are speaking with him about renewing his contract."

"He is a great player and Madrid are a great club, but it is just speculation. They are fantasies. The football that he is playing in Manchester is an example that he is happy here and he has his head at United. He has talent and is the best in the world."

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes Sir Alex Ferguson's big-match experience will be a crucial factor in United's bid to wrest the Premiership title from Chelsea. Solskjaer told MUTV: "The manager is the most important person. He knows when to rotate the team, he knows when to rest players." Solskjaer is confident United can bounce back following Sunday's defeat at Arsenal. "We have got the experience to sort ourselves out," he said. "If you have done it before, you do not get nervous."