Van Nistelrooy: Gullit praise (ShaunBotterill/Allsport)

As a player, the flamboyant Dutchman with flowing dreadlocks was crowned European Footballer of the Year in 1987, led his country to the European Championship a year later and won two European Cups with AC Milan.

So when the man famous for his love of 'sexy football' says he expects Ruud van Nistelrooy to fire Manchester United to the Champions League crown in Sir Alex Ferguson's final year, it is worth taking notice.

As if that is not enough, Gullit even likens Van Nistelrooy, 23, to Marco van Basten, a former Holland and Milan team-mate who was a three-time European Footballer of the Year.

Former Chelsea and Newcastle manager Gullit has watched Van Nistelrooy's development closely and said: 'From very early on in his career I could see he had everything to make it to the top. He is showing that with Manchester United

and already you can see this season will be very special for him. I believe he can complete Alex Ferguson's dream and lift the European Cup for Manchester United. Ruud is that good.

'I think you have seen how he handles pressure. It does not bother him in the least. In fact, like all good players, he seems to thrive on it. Ruud is a winner and you will see that this season.

'He made the right choice to go to Manchester United. He will learn from Sir Alex and the players around him and he will have better players around him all the time.

'No disrespect to PSV Eindhoven, but now he is able to compete every week at a higher level and that will make him a better player.'

Van Nistelrooy's £19million move to Old Trafford from Eindhoven in the summer had been delayed more than a year by a medial ligament injury to his right knee, which for a while drew eerie parallels with Van Basten, whose career was ended prematurely by serious knee trouble.

But, after scoring his third Champions League goal in the 3- 0 win over Olympiakos on Tuesday, which clinched a place in the competition's second phase, Van Nistelrooy showed just why Ferguson was prepared to wait for his complete recovery.

He even shrugged off the disappointment of having a penalty saved to guide a delightful through-ball for Ole Gunnar

Solskjaer to open the scoring against the Greek side before converting his own chance in injury time.

Gullit believes Van Nistelrooy's determination to fight back from injury is further proof of the steely resolve which will drive him to success at Old Trafford.

Gullit said: 'Marco was a different kind of all-round player but I can understand why people say there are similarities. Ruud has that smooth way of playing. He has got vision for space, makes space for himself and others, is very good technically and has an eye for goal.

'He has that natural ability but now he can work on it everyday with some of the best players in the world and that can only help him.

'One of the highest accolades I could give him is to compare him with Marco, who had everything a striker could possess - strength, determination and that eye to score. He has the same presence.

The way Ruud came back from injury said everything about him. He was not going to let go of his dream of playing for Manchester United.'

United winger Ryan Giggs has been impressed with his new colleague and believes he can join the legends of Old Trafford. Giggs, who captained United against Olympiakos, said: 'Ruud has all the makings of being a very good centre forward. He is still young and the way he has performed on his own up front and worked tirelessly for the team is wonderful.

'He has amazing energy and work-rate, and the crowd recognise that as well as his team-mates. He may get only one or two chances in a game but he has shown that, more often than not, he will put them away.

'You need a mental toughness to come through an injury like he has and he has clearly got that.