IT'S MY NAME ON THE BACK OF A UNITED SHIRT NOW!

Mbeumo wore Ronaldo's No.7 as a kid and can't wait to wear his own number in the famous red

- DAVID MCDONNELL

MANCHESTER UNITED'S new signing Bryan Mbeumo already has his sights set on emulating boyhood hero Cristiano Ronaldo.

Mbeumo, who has joined United from Brentford in a deal worth up to £71million, revealed the first football shirt he owned growing up was Ronaldo's iconic No.7.

The Cameroon star, 25, who plays out wide like Ronaldo but can also operate centrally, was just four when his idol joined United for the first of two spells in 2003.

In that six-year spell, Ronaldo scored 118 goals in 292 appearances, before returning to Old Trafford for an ill-fated second stint, which ended in acrimony after a season-and-a-half.

Mbeumo, who scored 20 Premier League goals for Brentford last season, modelled himself on Ronaldo and said he dreams of matching the exploits of his hero now he is a United player himself.

"My first top was one with Ronaldo (right) on," said Mbeumo, when asked to name his favourite player.