Cristiano Ronaldo's interview tirade â Man Utd admission, Messi stance, sly digs
Cristiano Ronaldo has lifted the lid on his relationship with Lionel Messi in a wide-ranging TV interview in which the pair also discussed their on-pitch rivalry
Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed plenty of headlines with his latest blockbuster interview this week.
The Al-Nassr forward is no stranger to stirring the pot, and stayed true to form during his conversation with El Chiringuito's Edu Aguirre, just days before his 40th birthday on Wednesday. He touched on rivalry, destiny, controversy, and everything in between.
Eternal foe Lionel Messi was mentioned, as was Kylian Mbappe, who now wears Ronaldo's old No.7 shirt at Real Madrid. He also spoke about reaching 1,000 career goals, and discussed the fallout from his infamously explosively Manchester United exit in 2022. Here, MEN runs through all the details.
Declaring himself the GOAT Cristiano Ronaldo labelled himself the "most complete" player in historyIt's fair to say that Ronaldo is a shameless self-promoter, and didn't hesitate to blow his own trumpet for the umpteenth time during the interview. "I think I'm the most complete player there has ever been," he proclaimed, brazenly placing himself at the summit of footballing greatness.
"That's my opinion. It could be a question of taste, but I think it's me. I do everything in football. I head well, I take set pieces well, I shoot well with my left foot, I'm fast, I'm strong, I jump.
"Taste is one thing, saying this, that or that, whether you prefer Messi, Pele or Maradona, I hear it and I respect it, but to say that Cristiano isn't complete is a lie. I'm the most complete. I don't see anyone better than me, and I tell you that with all my heart."
Subtle Messi jab Ronaldo took what appeared to be a sly jab at eternal rival Messi (Image: AFP/Getty Images)Since moving to the Saudi Pro League in 2023, Ronaldo has had to contend with criticism regarding the league's quality. In an attempt to deflect attention elsewhere, the Portugal international took a veiled swipe at Messi and the quality of football in MLS, though didn't specifically mention the Inter Miami star.
"People talk too much and give opinions without knowing," he said. Then, when asked if he thought the Saudi Pro League was better than MLS, he replied: "Obviously, obviously, obviously.
"But because it's Saudi Arabia, people look down on it a bit more," he added. "But I also know that the people who talk don't know what they're saying. Only those who play here, only those who are in the league, know. You have to give it the credit it deserves."
Alleged Ten Hag swipe Ronaldo also appeared to hit out at Erik ten Hag (Image: ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)Ronaldo has worked with some of the game's most esteemed managers, but it hasn't always been smooth sailing when it comes to relationships with his coaches. "I learned from all my coaches. I had some really bad ones. Guys who don't have a f***ing clue about football," he said, in what many perceived to be a jab at Erik ten Hag.
Ronaldo fell out with the Dutchman in 2022, and left United a few months into the season after being largely left on the sidelines. In an explosive tell-all interview with Piers Morgan, he slammed Ten Hag, saying: "The coach didn't have respect for me.
"So this is why the relationship, it's in that way. He keep saying in the press that he come to me, he like me blah, blah, blah, but that is only for the press, 100 per cent. If you don't have respect for me, I'm never going to have respect for you."
Barcelona transfer Ronaldo revealed that he almost joined Barcelona (Image: AP)Before his initial stint at Old Trafford, Ronaldo was being targeted by several top European clubs including Liverpool, Arsenal and Juventus. He also revealed that Barcelona tried to sign him, and that he very nearly joined them in the summer of 2003.
"I could have signed for Barca when I was playing for Sporting Lisbon," he said. "I was with someone from the club and they wanted to sign me, but it didn't happen. They wanted to sign me that year and join them the following year. But Manchester wanted me for that year."
Had he joined Barcelona, Ronaldo would have been team-mates with Messi, who made his senior debut for the Spanish giants a year or so later.
Real Madrid warning Ronaldo urged Madrid fans to support Mbappe (Image: Europa Press via Getty Images)Ronaldo also issued a warning to his former club Real Madrid, and their new signing Mbappe. The Frenchman had a challenging start to life in the Spanish capital following his move from PSG last summer, and although he's since found his feet â and his shooting boots â doubts remain about his long-term suitability to the No.9 role Real boss Carlo Ancelotti has been using him in.
Nevertheless, Ronaldo has urged fans to support Mbappe, saying: "Take care of him. Take care of him. I tell the Real Madrid fans... take care of the kid," before suggesting that Los Blancos should train Mbappe how to play as true No.9.
"The position of striker makes it a little bit difficult for Mbappe, because he doesn't know how to play as a striker in my opinion... it's not that he doesn't know, it's not his position.
"If I was at Real Madrid, I would teach him how to play as a No.9. Because I wasn't a striker. I got used to playing as a striker. I used to play on the wing and people forget."
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