“Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have longer careers and they remain at the top for 15 years. However if we talk specifically about talent and skill no one can surpass the Brazilian Ronaldo,” Jose Mourinho said recently.
“When I was at Barcelona with Bobby Robson, I realized he was the best player I had ever seen on the pitch. Injuries ruined his career, which could have been even more amazing, but the talent he showed the world even as a teenager, he was remarkable,” the Special one reeled back.
Not many football people in Portugal would openly admit that Brazilian Ronaldo is better than their compatriot Cristiano. But Jose Mourinho and the Portuguese superstar have very long and strained relationship.
In 2017 Cristiano had already decided that he would leave Real Madrid and Manchester United were happy to bring the star back to Old Trafford. However, Mou was adamantly against it and Ronaldo went to Juventus.
Their general manager Jorge Mendes tried several times over the years to reconcile the coach and the player without success. Story began in England when Cristiano claimed that Mourinho did not know how to admit his mistakes. United had been crowned champions by six points over Chelsea with the Special one and sparks often flew between the two camps during the season.
“This boy lacks maturity and respect. This is probably due to his difficult childhood and lack of education. But I have no problems with him or with Alex Ferguson” replied Jose.
Снимка от ИспанияThen fate brought them together in Real Madrid and it was clear from miles away that the Portuguese compatriots were not close friends. Cristiano didn’t like Mourinho’s defensive style and shared it with the media, which infuriated the coach.
In February 2012, an interesting curiosity happened. The Special One’s assistant Rui Faria took a bet with Cristiano if he can score a hat-trick against Levante. In the end, the star succeeded and ran to the bench to celebrate his achievement with Jose’s assistant. Faria jumped from his seat, but Mourinho was first to do that. The coach thought Cristiano was running towards him, but he soon realized his mistake and it was quite awkward.
After losing to Barcelona in the first semi-final of the 2010/11 Champions League campaign Cristiano spoke out against Real Madrid’s ultradefensive tactics. As a result, he was left out of the group for the next match against Real Zaragoza. Los Blancos lost 2:3 at the “Bernabeu”.
Mendes had to reconcile them again but the peace did not last long.
January 2013 was difficult for Mourinho because of the the scandal with Iker Casillas and the team was booed by its own fans. Mendes asked Cristiano to publicly support his coach and Ronaldo listened but only a week later regretted doing so. On January 15, Real Madrid played Valencia in the quarter-finals of the Spanish Cup and Mourinho shouted at the star: “Less talk, more run and get back to helping!”.
Снимка от ИспанияThe special one had serious complaints about Cristiano regarding his game in defensive plan. “You have to come back and show you’re part of the team not play for yourself” Jose scolded. Ronaldo was furious “After everything I’ve done for you, is this your attitude?” asked the star.
The debriefing seemed to be over and the Real players were preparing to leave the dressing room when the Special One continued his attack: “A lot of people in the team think like me, but they don’t dare tell you in person. They just don’t have the balls to call you to account.”
Ronaldo stormed towards the coach but the players and massage therapists rushed to separate them.
“I had a very simple problem with him. I believe that if a coach criticizes a player on tactical details, then he thinks there is room for improvement in his game. But he didn’t take the advice. Maybe he thought he knew everything and that the coach he can’t make it better. He was wrong,” Mourinho said years later.
Therefore, do not be surprised that from the Brazilian and the Portuguese Ronaldo, Mou categorically prefers the first.