Middlesbrough's Julio Arca insists Cristiano Ronaldo isn't public enemy number one, despite the penalty incident which settled last month's meeting.

The Boro number three was on the losing side at Old Trafford in the FA Cup quarter-final replay, after Ronaldo won and converted a 76th-minute spot-kick. The United winger said, "I felt contact (from Jonathan Woodgate), that is why I slipped," but angry members of the opposition, including midfielder George Boateng, saw it very differently.

"He got a penalty which won the game and some of my team-mates were not happy, but United were the better side," acknowledges Arca.

The former Sunderland star seemingly holds no grudge against Ronaldo for any of the three penalties he's either earned or scored against Boro this season. It certainly didn't stop him from voting for Cristiano ahead of this Sunday's PFA awards.

"Didier Drogba has scored a lot more goals than any other player, but Ronaldo has been the best player," explains Arca.

"He has contributed so much to Manchester United and possesses so many talents. He is strong, quick and has really matured as a player in the last year. He could be the best player in the world at the moment."

Though welcome, Arca's praise for Ronaldo is unlikely to assuage Sir Alex Ferguson's concerns about the Middlesbrough game. The United boss admitted to the media on Friday: "I'm fearing the worst myself, I must say, about what could happen tomorrow. We've got important games