CRISTIANO RONALDO only has “three tricks” and is no match for Brazilian Ronaldo, according to Mikael Silvestre – who played with both.
The former France defender has incredibly claimed CR7 has got nothing on the “original” Ronaldo.
Ronaldo was a better player than namesake Cristiano, says Silvestre
Silvestre, who played alongside the Brazilian at Inter Milan in 1998-99, called Ronaldo “unstoppable” just days after Jose Mourinho called him the best player of all time.
The ex-Arsenal defender – who played with Cristiano at Manchester United – told MUTV Group Chat: “He was unstoppable.
“You called him ‘El Fenomeno’ then. I played against Messi and I played with Cristiano at Manchester United.
“But [Brazilian Ronaldo] is something else in terms of speed. Everything is top level [with Ronaldo]
“Cristiano, maybe you can guess that he has three or four tricks he would use most of the time.
“But Ronnie, it was always something different.
“He was inventing things on the spot, so you can’t guide him left or right because he’s going to get out of these situations, no matter what.
“He could score from any type of position. He was playing on one leg at some points and was still beating defenders all over Europe.”
MOUR SUPPORT
And Mourinho is under no illusions as to who is the better of the Ronaldos, either…
The Tottenham boss worked with Ronaldo during his single season at Barcelona, in which he scored 47 goals in just 49 games.
Ronaldo helped Sir Bobby Robson’s side win the Copa del Rey, Cup Winners’ Cup and Supercopa de Espana.
Mourinho, of course, worked with Cristiano at Real Madrid, too.
When asked who he thought the greatest player of all time was, Mourinho replied: “Ronaldo, El Fenomeno.
“Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi have had longer careers, they have remained at the top every day for 15 years.
Silvestre played alongside Cristiano at Man Utd and Ronaldo Nazario at Inter Milan
“However, if we are talking strictly about talent and skill, nobody surpasses Ronaldo [Nazario].
“When he was at Barcelona with Bobby Robson, I realised that he was the best player I’d ever seen take to the field.
“Injuries killed a career that could have been even more incredible, but the talent that that 19-year-old boy had was something incredible.”
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry weighs in on Messi vs Ronaldo debate
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
