THE president of CD Nacional has lifted the lid on Cristiano Ronaldo’s lockdown training sessions in Madeira.
Juventus’ No7 was on the books at the Portuguese second-tier club as a kid between 1995 and 1997, before club chief Rui Alves signed off on his move to Sporting Lisbon.
⚠️ Read our coronavirus in sport live blog for the latest news & updates
Cristiano Ronaldo has been using the 5,132 seater stadium as a training base while in lockdown
The 35-year-old has stayed in astonishing shapeCredit: Instagram / @cristiano
And Ronaldo has now made a return of sorts, using the club’s Estadio da Madeira home to train while back on his home island during the global coronavirus pandemic.
The 35-year-old was recently pictured using the 5,132 seater facility, shooting at a goalkeeper while doing other drills.
And Alves has revealed more details on how the sessions came about.
He told Tuttosport: “Cristiano called us and we were happy to give him this chance.
“We have complied with the Madeira health rules and protocols linked to Covid-19, starting from the respect of the safety distances.
“Cris was our boy and is now the best possible example for the Academia del Nacional. It is a model for the whole world.
“He is a super professional and has remarkable human qualities. It is the pride of our society, of all of us. The strongest footballer in history was born on our small island.”
The Portuguese legend is used to frequent high intensity sessions with Juventus, and previously Real Madrid.
And Alves has admitted that the “super motivated” star tends to come and go as he pleases.
He continued: “I don’t believe every day [that he trains]. Sometimes he comes in the morning, sometimes in the afternoon.
“It depends on his training programmes. I found him super motivated and determined.
“The Madeiran air will have sent him even more positive energy. He’s training hard. He can’t wait for the health emergency to end.
“For the good of the world and the people, first of all, and then because he also has a great desire to return to play.”
Ronaldo won the Serie A title in his first season in Turin, but the Champions League and Ballon d’Or have so far eluded him since his move to Italy.
Alves, however, believes that he is happy at the Allianz Stadium, and can have success there for a long period to come.
“He seems very happy with Juve. I think and hope that he will remain there for a few more years. I wish him to win the Scudetto, Champions League and the Golden Ball in black and white.”
Give now to The Sun’s NHS appeal
BRITAIN’s four million NHS staff are on the frontline in the battle against coronavirus.
But while they are helping save lives, who is there to help them?
The Sun has launched an appeal to raise £1MILLION for NHS workers.
The Who Cares Wins Appeal aims to get vital support to staff in their hour of need.
We have teamed up with NHS Charities Together in their urgent Covid-19 Appeal to ensure the money gets to exactly who needs it.
The Sun is donating £50,000 and we would like YOU to help us raise a million pounds, to help THEM.
No matter how little you can spare, please donate today here
www.thesun.co.uk/whocareswinsappeal
Ronaldo has stunned fans with his astonishing physique in pictures posted to his Instagram while in lockdown.
The superstar has also used the time to relax with girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez and his four children.
In addition this, he convinced the entire Portugal squad to donate 50 per cent of their Euro 2020 qualification bonuses to help fight coronavirus, as revealed by team-mate Bernardo Silva.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk