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Real Madrid's Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo is the player Danish referee Claus Bo Larsen nominated.

Larsen blew the final whistle on a distinguished career after he took charge of AC Milan's Champions League clash against Ajax at the San Siro earlier this week...

And with no fear of future on-pitch reprisals, the 45-year-old was free to blast the former Manchester United forward for his habit of diving to win free-kicks and land opponents in trouble.

"He is always out to get a cheap free-kick, especially at home," Larsen told the Daily Mirror.

"We tended to talk in the referee's room about how he would go down easily. We know not to be biased - but we have to be prepared."

Ronaldo famously badgered the referee into sending off Wayne Rooney during the 2006 World Cup quarter-final between Portugal and England, an act which he followed by winking shamelessly towards the bench to confirm his subterfuge.

But Larsen claimed that he was wise to the wily ways of the former Manchester United star - and that Ronaldo knew it.

"When he would lie down after failing to win a free-kick, he would smile at me because he knew I didn't fall for his stunts," added the Dane.

Referee Larsen added that he has plenty of positive memories from his 14 years as a referee, during which he took charge of dozens of Champions League matches - including the 2009 semi-final between Arsenal and Manchester United - as well as 97 international clashes, including England's international against France last month.

And while the relationship between referees and clubs is often portrayed as frosty at best, Larsen insists that he enjoyed a good relationship with one of the trickiest men in the game - Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson.

"I have a good relationship with Ferguson, even though he is always screaming and shouting at referees," said Larsen.

"I'll never forget him coming to hammer on my dressing-room door after a Champions League game at Old Trafford. He simply said: 'That was the best refereeing performance in many years.' It was great."
Eurosport