Global soccer sensation Cristiano Ronaldo recently talked to the press, just ahead of preparing for an action-packed season. The Portuguese superstar was asked many questions by the press, one such being related to his ex-teammate Angel Di Maria. The question was asked in relation to Di Maria’s move to his ex-club, SL Benfica in the Portuguese top flight.
The media asked Ronaldo to comment on Benfica’s snap of the 2022 World Cup winner and was particularly obtuse in his reply. Ronaldo replied, “Di Maria to Benfica? I will not comment about it. If you asked me a question about Sporting, I would answer you, but on that I will not comment it.” CR7 has his allegiances set on boyhood club Sporting Lisbon, arch-rivals of Di Maria’s new club.
Cristiano was applauded by the fans of his boyhood club for his coldness in addressing the question. The star added, “I would have commented if you asked a question regarding Sporting.” It is evident that that Ronaldo still has a strong place in his heart for Sporting.”
He's back. pic.twitter.com/kdaFawXf9F
— SL Benfica (@slbenfica_en) July 5, 2023
Di Maria’s morale questioned by Cristiano Ronaldo
Angel Di Maria and Cristiano Ronaldo were teammates when Real Madrid completed La Decima in 2014. The final was in Lisbon, against Los Blancos‘s arch-rivals Atletico Madrid. Atletico had taken the lead early in the final and Real Madrid were trailing for the majority of the final.
CR7 possesses a warrior mentality and believes to come on top throughout the course of the match. The star was determined to win the final to bring his 1st UEFA Champions League title since his arrival at the Santiago Bernabeu. After the match, Ronaldo revealed in an interview, “I love the pressure. When I do not feel the pressure, I want to take my boots, put them on the side, and say: ‘That’s it.’ It has always been about success and winning. If I had to choose one title then the Champions League would be the most important.”
As Real Madrid was trailing till the last minute in the match, Ronaldo recalled an incident with Di Maria in the same interview, “At 88 minutes gone in the final, I looked for Di Maria and I saw him face down thinking: ‘We have a better team but we are going to lose.’ But I always believe. I will always say that it doesn’t matter if you play good or bad, as long as you win. In 20 years, no one will look back and say; ‘they played better, they created more chances.’ It just depends on who wins.”
It is fair to say that Real Madrid’s number 7 at the time did not like Real Madrid’s lack of passion and belief in the Real Madrid team. Thus, his recent comments may not come as a surprise to the soccer faithful.
Who won the 2014 UCL final?
Under manager Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid went on to eventually win the 10th UEFA Champions League title that night. Cristiano, a 5 time Ballon D’or winner, was one of the crucial cogs of the Real Madrid engine finishing the season as the tournament’s top scorer with 17 goals.
Real Madrid were trailing in the game till the stoppage time when their captain Sergio Ramos headed in a corner to take the game to extra-time. Ancelotti’s men turned the tide in extra time with Gareth Bale, Marcelo, and Cristiano Ronaldo scoring to win the game 4-1.
It is safe to say that Ronaldo’s belief and mentality traversed into other members of the squad as well, with the Madrid-based club winning 3 in a row under legendary French manager Zinedine Zidane. The Al-Nassr striker looks forward to the season ahead in order to win his first trophy since leaving Juventus.
