New Al-Nassr manager, Luis Castro, has opened up about working with forward Cristiano Ronaldo.
Castro described Ronaldo as an inspiration to his colleagues.
The former Porto head coach took charge of the Saudi Pro League club on July 6.
“We are happy to have the best players in history with us. It is always a reason to be happy to have the opportunity to work with him [Ronaldo], and he is an inspiration to many of our colleagues on a daily basis,” Castro said (via Record).
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“It is a responsibility for all of us to fight to achieve our goals and he is clearly the reference of the team.”
Ronaldo made 19 appearances for Al-Nassr last season, scoring 14 goals and providing two assists across all competitions for the team.
Meanwhile, In April 2020, he remarked that “there is only one Ronaldo, the Brazilian one”, referring to the former Brazil, Inter and Real Madrid superstar.
In March 2021, Cassano blasted Ronaldo’s inability to improve Juventus’ fortunes in the Champions League after they won just one knockout tie in his three seasons at the club.
“Juventus signed him to win the Champions League, but they’ve done worse with him than they’ve done before,” Cassano told Corriere dello Sport.
“They’d also won the Scudetto [Serie A title] without him. I think he’s been a failure.”
In October 2021, Cassano stated that Ronaldo is “not even among the top five players in history.”
“I would put Messi, Diego Maradona, Pelé, Johan Crujff. And then I’ll put Ronaldo, ‘Il Fenomeno’. Period.
“If we have to free someone, then Marco van Basten, as I don’t know Alfredo Di Stefano. Let’s not exaggerate.
Cassano’s constant attacks have annoyed Ronaldo, with the Portuguese star reportedly sending the Italian a number of angry WhatsApp messages last year.
Ronaldo is said to have felt disrespected by Cassano always attacking him.
“Cristiano wrote to me on WhatsApp asking for more respect after everything he’s won, all the goals he’s scored and for what he represents,” Cassano revealed in 2022.
“I’m not afraid to tell the truth, I’ll face the whole world, from the Pope to the last person on earth. I told Cristiano Ronaldo that it’s not disrespect to say that only one Ronaldo exists and it’s the Fenomeno, and that Messi is much better than him. That’s not disrespect.”
