Frank Christian
Cristiano Ronaldo’s tenure at Real Madrid is celebrated for extraordinary achievements, legendary victories, and extraordinary skill.
However, former teammate Rafael van der Vaart has disclosed some intriguing aspects of Ronaldo’s journey at the Santiago Bernabeu.
In an interview with talkSPORT, Van der Vaart recounted a light-hearted moment, saying, “He never left his house!”
“As a joke, I always say Ronaldo is the only player whose private parts I’ve never seen! He was consistently the first to arrive for training and the last to leave.”
Van der Vaart discusses Ronaldo’s ‘selfish’ nature
Van der Vaart commended Ronaldo’s work ethic, labeling him “a machine” and ahead of his era. His commitment to physical fitness, nutrition, and recovery distinguished him among his fellow elite athletes.
The former Madrid midfielder further emphasized: “Primarily, his physique — impressive! He was ahead of the curve. Nowadays, players emulate that, but for him, the gym, diet, and sleep were more crucial than merely putting in extra training hours.”
Yet, Van der Vaart also pointed out Ronaldo’s intense focus on scoring goals.
“Ronaldo was incredibly selfish,” the ex-Netherlands star remarked, having played for Madrid from 2008 to 2010. “If we won 6-0 but he didn’t score, he was unhappy. If we lost but he netted twice, he’d be fine with it!”
Despite describing him as self-centered, Van der Vaart acknowledged that this mentality was integral to Ronaldo’s success. He added, “I had numerous conversations with him where he insisted, ‘I need my goals! I need my goals!'”
At the age of 39, Ronaldo continues to demonstrate his scoring prowess with Al Nassr, proving he is still a formidable striker.
