Former Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has spoken of his admiration for Zinedine Zidane: “He helped to motivate me.”
Zidane returned as Madrid boss earlier this year while Ronaldo – who left Los Blancos to join Juventus in a €100m deal last summer – praised the man-management skills of the Coach with whom he won three consecutive Champions League titles.
“Zidane helped me a lot,” Ronaldo told DAZN, in quotes carried by Marca.
“I already respected him for his career, but working with him made me admire him even more for his way of being, of speaking and for the way he treated me.
“The confidence that a player needs does not depend almost on him, but on the people around him, other players and the Coach.
“He used to tell me, “Cris, rest, you will make a difference.” He was always honest with me and that's why I will always carry him in my heart.”
The two won three successive Champions League titles when together at Madrid, along with the 2017 La Liga crown.
