Cristiano Ronaldo has given an exclusive interview to LaSexta, and his statements are sure to be talked about in the days to come. The former Real Madrid striker looked back on the key moments of his career, including his departure from the Madrid club in 2018 and his relationship with Lionel Messi.
Almost seven years after leaving Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo still holds the Casa Blanca club close to his heart. The current captain of Al Nassr, who scored his 923rd career goal yesterday, gave a candid interview to LaSexta. In the hour-long interview with Edu Aguirre, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner spoke frankly about a number of subjects: his day-to-day life, his future, but above all his time at Real Madrid and the reasons that led him to turn the page after nine legendary seasons.
Since his departure for Juventus in 2018 for a cheque of €110 million, there has been much speculation about the real reasons behind his decision. Some pointed to tensions with Florentino Pérez, while others spoke of a desire to discover a new championship. Today, Cristiano Ronaldo has put an end to the rumours and spoken the truth.
When asked why he left the Casa Blanca, Ronaldo answers frankly: ‘My cycle was stuck, I wanted a different motivation. I wasn’t exhausted by leaving. The President accepted my choice, but he didn’t negotiate very well with me. He wanted me to stay, but I couldn’t do that any more. I appreciate and respect Florentino, and I still speak to him from time to time. I can’t rule out coming back one day, when my career is over, and doing something special,’ he declared.
🚨 ‘Why did you leave Real Madrid?’
— TC (@totalcristiano) February 3, 2025
🚨 Cristiano Ronaldo: “A new adventure. Florentino Pérez accepted my REQUEST at the end, then at one point be wanted to BACK OUT but it was NOT possible. I gave Juventus my word.” pic.twitter.com/86mGRVY0sC
These words confirm that Ronaldo never felt totally rejected by the club, but rather at the end of his career. The desire to take on a new challenge in Serie A prompted him to try his luck with Juventus, where he continued to shine before moving on to Manchester United and then Al-Nassr.
Ronaldo talks about his historic rivalry with Lionel Messi
Another subject that cannot be ignored is his rivalry with Lionel Messi. For almost ten years, the two legends dominated world football. They have shared the Ballon d’Or and brought the Clasicos between Real Madrid and Barcelona to life. Ronaldo has an interesting take on the rivalry: ‘We lived through an era of incredible tension. It was a historic rivalry: Madrid-Barça, Cristiano-Messi, Ramos-Piqué… It was very intense, but also very enjoyable. I’ve always had a good relationship with Messi. Once I even translated a speech for him before a gala. He always treated me well. I’d like us to get back together like we used to, but I think it’s very complicated these days.‘
🚨 Cristiano Ronaldo: “I have a good relationship with Leo Messi. I was translating him in English at an award ceremony too!”. 😄
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 4, 2025
“It was funny. It was a healthy rivalry, we got along”. pic.twitter.com/knCMbmxlLf
Although his departure from Real Madrid was a turning point, Ronaldo is leaving the door open to a return, one way or another. Even though he will no longer be playing in the white shirt, he has raised the possibility of returning to the club in a different role. Turning 40 in two days’ time, the end of his career is approaching, and seeing Cristiano take up a position at the Madrid club in the years to come is not a far-fetched idea.
Real Madrid have already welcomed former legends such as Raúl, Roberto Carlos and Zidane in ambassadorial or coaching roles. Why not Cristiano? One thing is certain: his statements will leave no one indifferent. His time at Real Madrid will go down in history, and his legacy will continue to inspire future generations.
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