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Cristiano Ronaldo's former Real Madrid teammate Rafael van der Vaart once opened up about an incredible incident where the former woved him. The ex-Netherlands international spent the 2009/10 season playing alongside the Portuguese superstar.
Overall, the pair made 21 appearances across competitions with one another but did not bag a joint goal contribution. Recalling an incident where Ronaldo provided a savage response to Van der Vaart's comments over the 39-year-old's free kicks in training, the latter said in 2018 (via Tribuna):
"One day after training, Cristiano took 20 balls and started practicing free kicks but none went in. I took one and it went in and told him 'that's how you do it'. Come game day, we won a free kick and Cristiano hanged it up in the top corner and told me, 'that's how I do it.'"
Throughout his illustrious career, Ronaldo is arguably most well-known for his time at Real Madrid. He joined the Spanish giants from Manchester United in the summer of 2009 for a reported fee of €94 million.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner went on to make 438 appearances across competitions for Los Blancos, bagging 450 goals and 131 assists. He won the UEFA Champions League trophy on four occasions, along with two La Liga titles, among other honors in the Spanish capital.
Currently, Ronaldo represents Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, a team he joined in January 2023 following a mutual contract termination at the end of his second spell at Old Trafford.
Michael Owen says Cristiano Ronaldo could become a future Real Madrid manager
Liverpool legend and ex-Real Madrid star Michael Owen believes Cristiano Ronaldo could become a future manager. He made these comments after witnessing the 39-year-old's behaviour on the touchline at Euro 2024.
Owen also named Ronaldo's former clubs, including Los Blancos and Manchester United, as sides who would like to have the Portuguese star. He told TV Sporten (via GOAL):
"He looks like a coach, he looks like he wants to coach, so he might want to go down that route. The Portugal job, probably in the future we might have his name on it, you never know. Of course, if he does well, then great teams like Manchester United, Real Madrid would then be looking at him."
Ronaldo is nearing the end of his professional career and has a year left on his contract at Al-Nassr. It remains to be seen if he'll make it for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
