ROY KEANE has hailed his former Manchester United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo as the ‘most intelligent player’ he has seen.
The Irish hardman lined-up alongside the Portuguese icon between 2003 and 2006.
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Ronaldo is still at the top level now despite being aged 36 – although he was powerless to prevent his country from being dumped out of the Euro 2020 courtesy of Belgium on Sunday.
Keane, 49, was watching the game while working as a pundit for ITV.
And ahead of the last-16 clash, he paid a glowing tribute to the forward.
Keane said: “He’s the most intelligent player I have seen in my life.
“Obviously I’m not going back to 50s and 60s but the guy loves scoring goals.
“His intelligence is amazing, how he plays the game, he doesn’t get involved in build-up player but he’s got that trickery and arrogance which you need from the great players.
“The brain, the intelligence of the man, how he’s done it in different countries, how he’s looked after himself off the pitch as well.
“I can’t praise the man enough, he’s an absolute genius, I love watching him.
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“Just the brain he’s got, the cleverest player ever.”
Ronaldo is a five-time winner of the Ballon d’Or, and he has numerous titles and Champions League winner medals also on his CV.
And Keane’s fellow pundit Patrick Vieira could not hide his admiration for the striker as well.
The 1998 French World Cup winner said: “He’s the most competitive player I know. What I’m amazed at by him is he will train every single day like he plays at the weekend.
“From Monday to Saturday how he looks after himself on the training field. I think this is why this guy is a really good example for every single young person who wants to be a player.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
