Cristiano Ronaldo, widely regarded as one of Real Madrid’s greatest players, recently opened up about his departure from the club and his illustrious career in an interview.
The Portuguese superstar, who now plays for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, shared his thoughts on his time at Real Madrid and the events leading to his move to Juventus.
Reflecting on his time at the Spanish club, Ronaldo described Real Madrid as “the greatest club in the world.” He expressed gratitude for the success he achieved and the lasting memories he created during his tenure.
“I achieved beautiful things at Madrid, and people don’t forget that. That makes me happy,” he said.
He also recalled how the high standards at the club pushed him to continuously improve. “At Real Madrid, if I missed a chance or a penalty, I would be so angry with myself. I didn’t allow myself to make mistakes. I would go to bed without dinner, questioning why I shot to the right or to the left. I don’t regret being like that.”
Ronaldo shed light on the process that led to his departure from Madrid in 2018. He revealed that club president Florentino Perez had initially agreed to let him go, but later attempted to reverse the decision.
“I told Florentino that I would leave, and he accepted. But a few days later, he wanted to go back on the decision and continue. However, there was no way back because I had given my word to Juventus,” Ronaldo stated.
One of Ronaldo’s most cherished experiences was playing against Barcelona at Camp Nou. “I loved playing in Camp Nou. They booed me, they insulted me, and I loved that.”
He also spoke fondly of his time under Carlo Ancelotti, calling the Italian coach a “spectacular person” and recalling the many trophies they won together.
“Ancelotti? I like him a lot. He is a spectacular person. We won many things together.”
While discussing today’s Real Madrid team, Ronaldo praised Vinicius Jr., stating that he deserved to win the Ballon d’Or but was unfairly overlooked. He also compared Jude Bellingham to club legend Zinedine Zidane, acknowledging the young midfielder’s immense talent.
“Bellingham reminds me of Zidane. He has his whole future ahead of him.”
Ronaldo also spoke highly of Real Madrid’s president, Florentino Perez, despite their past disagreements. “I respect Perez. He is a trustworthy president and a serious person. He treated me well, and we won many titles together.”
Despite playing for different clubs after leaving Madrid, Ronaldo reaffirmed his deep connection to Spain and Real Madrid.
“Spain is my home. My kids were born there. I will always support Real Madrid with my heart.”
He also revealed that his son, Mateo, is a big fan of current football stars such as Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, and Kylian Mbappe.
Ronaldo’s words confirm that while his career has taken him across multiple leagues and continents, Real Madrid will always hold a special place in his heart.
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