A different view of Ronaldo

Stewart Beckett with Ronaldo.

LOCAL graphic artist Stewart Beckett has come to the defence of under-fire footballer Cristiano Ronaldo.

The 63-year-old from Shaw, who has worked with Ronaldo on a charitable project, believes the criticisms of the player are unjust.

As Ronaldo contemplates his transfer from Manchester United to Real Madrid for a world-record £80million, Mr Beckett has only words of praise for the player.

He said: “Obviously I have read all the things which have been written about Ronaldo. He has received so much flak that I thought it would be nice to portray another angle. I found him to be a top man.”

Mr Beckett has worked with Ronaldo to raise funds for the George Best Foundation which aids research into liver disease.

When Ronaldo broke Best’s record for the highest number of goals scored by a United player the season before last, Mr Beckett produced a limited edition print featuring Best with his arm round the shoulder of the Portuguese player.

The print, which was signed by Ronaldo, was auctioned to raise funds for the Foundation.

Ronaldo also likes to see himself as a matador-type figure and Mr Beckett also produced a print of him in bullfighting attire, though that was for his personal use as a thank-you for his support with the charity work.

Mr Beckett’s design team at A’Becket Studio has produced limited edition prints to commemorate many sporting feats.

He worked with Best and Sir Stanley Matthews before their deaths and has also featured the likes of Sir Bobby Charlton, Denis Law, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Sir Alex Ferguson, Rio Ferdinand, David Beckham, Sir Tom Finney, Dave Mackay, Michael Owen, Ferenc Puskas and Gabriel Batistuta.