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Portugal manager Fernando Santos has played down comparisons between teenage sensation Joao Felix and all-time top goalscorer Cristiano Ronaldo , claiming the pair are “completely different”.

The 19-year-old Benfica starlet has been linked with many of Europe's elite clubs after a sensational season in the Primeira Liga.

Manchester United are one of those adding the starlet to their wish-list with Real Madrid , Liverpool and Juventus also believed to be keen.

Felix has 10 goals and five assists in 18 league appearance for the Portuguese giants, and has been dubbed the "next Cristiano Ronaldo”.

(Image: JOSE COELHO/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

But Santos, who guided Portugal to a Euro 2016 triumph, is keen to play down any comparisons between uncapped Felix and 34-year-old Portuguese superstar Ronaldo, who has 85 international goals.

"If I did not think Joao had quality, I think he would be here, it's very easy, I only put Joao because I believe he has enormous potential," Santos said, according to O Jogo .

“A few sentences that I say on the street I can not say as a coach, I'll repeat it, every player in the national team is a player of the highest quality, you can not compare things that are not comparable.

(Image: SIPA USA/PA Images)

"They are two players of great qualities, but they are completely different.

"To compare they had to be players with very similar characteristics, but they are in fact of the highest quality.

“They are players who can reach the national team at the age of 16, 17 or 18. (Paulo) Futre, Ronaldo, they have a lot of quality or they did not reach the main national team at this age.”

(Image: AFP/Getty Images)

Earlier this month Benfica fired a warning to Manchester United and Liverpool as interest in boy wonder Felix intensifies.

They plan to raise the teenager's buy-out clause before the end of the season to stop him leaving on the cheap.

It would take €120million (£103m) as it stands to lure the 19-year-old away from Portugal.