Serie A

CRISTIANO RONALDO’S top team-mates have been revealed with just THREE Manchester United stars making the cut.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has cemented a reputation as a man who can do it on his own, but even the Portuguese occasionally has to rely on support – especially from his regular colleagues.

From early days at Sporting Lisbon and Old Trafford to a decade of dominance at Real Madrid before joining Juventus, CR7 has played with the best.
But the Mirror have found out the players who have lined up alongside the 35-year-old the most, not an overall list of the most talented players.
John O’Shea has also made more appearances with Ronaldo than some of the attackers in the team, but can’t quite squeeze into this XI.
Here’s Cristiano Ronaldo’s ultimate XI…

Iker Casillas
The Spanish World Cup winner has made 228 appearances alongside Ronaldo during the pair’s time in Madrid as they scooped a Champions League and a LaLiga title together.
Edwin van der Sar, who was between the sticks for much of the Portugal captain’s time at United, is next up with 167 games with the forward.

Ronaldo was mentored by Rio Ferdinand during his formative years at Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty – Contributor
Sergio Ramos
Although he has since developed into one of the world’s best centre-back, the Madrid skipper broke through on the right side of defence in his younger days.
Ramos’ 339 appearances with Ronaldo are enough to warrant him edging out Alvaro Arbeloa’s 201 games.

Pepe
The ex-Madrid hardman’s appearances with Ronaldo have boosted by playing alongside him at both club level and the Portugal national team.
Pepe has lined up next to his compatriot 321 times en route to a Euro 2016 win, and relegates his former teammate Raphael Varane’s score of 199.
Rio Ferdinand
The England legend made his switch to Old Trafford a year before Ronaldo and his leadership qualities during their 221 games together would have been instrumental in CR7’s ascent to the top.
Ferdinand in particular once revealed that United’s squad used to try to wind up the Juve superstar by mentioning long-term rival Lionel Messi.

Ronaldo became a multi Champions League winner alongside Real Madrid teammates Luka Modric and Sergio RamosCredit: AFP or licensors
Marcelo
Only two players in the team have gone into battle with Ronaldo more than the Brazilian left-back, who can boast a staggering 332 appearances with the striker.
Cristiano was reportedly such a fan of their chemistry together that he urged Maurizio Sarri to bring his former Madrid team-mate to Turin this summer.
Isco
Perhaps the most surprising name in the team, the diminutive Spaniard featured in 188 games with Ronaldo during their five years at the Bernabeu together.
That earns him a spot over Paul Scholes (183) and Sami Khedira (173).
Xabi Alonso
The former linchpin in Liverpool’s midfield in their battles against Ronaldo’s United, Alonso joined Madrid in the same 2009 summer as his Prem rival.
The World Cup winner then went on to make 208 appearances with the Portuguese in which they claimed both European and domestic glory.

Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney blossomed into two of the best attackers in world football under Sir Alex FergusonCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Luka Modric
The Croat has the prestigious title of the midfielder with the most appearances alongside Ronaldo at 222 games.
Incidentally, Modric was also the first player to break up his former Madrid teammates Ballon d’Or duopoly with Messi with his win in January 2019.
Ryan Giggs
The Welsh wizard featured next to Ronaldo 204 times during their six years together at Old Trafford in which they lifted three back-to-back Premier League titles between 2006 and 2009.
Unfortunately for Cristiano, he’s beaten to a spot in Giggs’ most regular teammates by Nicky Butt!
Wayne Rooney
The former England captain takes the last of United’s three entrants in Ronaldo’s top team-mates after 206 games together.
Ex-Madrid and Juventus frontman Gonzalo Higuain is warming the bench with his 172 appearances.

Karim Benzema
No footballer has played more matches next to Ronaldo than the Frenchman, who can boast 342 games in their nine years together after joining in the same summer.
Benzema admitted last year that he used to do all of the Portuguese’s hard work off the ball and has since flourished in front of goal himself in his absence.

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FORMER Tottenham playmaker Christian Eriksen has slammed Inter Milan boss Antonio Conte for dropping him and says he “expects to play”.
The 28-year-old left Spurs to join the exciting project which Conte was building at Inter.

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Christian Eriksen has not enjoyed life at Inter Milan so far making just 28 appearances since joining in January 2020

Since joining the Nerazzurri in January 2020, Eriksen has made just 28 appearances, scoring on four occasions and providing three assists.
Last Monday’s Transfer Deadline saw the Danish playmaker linked with a move away from the San Siro, with the likes of PSG and former club Tottenham reportedly offered the chance to sign the player on loan.
Eriksen returning to Spurs would have been a spectacular U-turn, with the his exit one of the most talked about parts of Spurs’ Amazon documentary All or Nothing.
Ahead of his return to Wembley, this time with his national side Denmark, Eriksen vented his frustrations in a press conference.

Eriksen said: “I don’t want to sit the bench for the whole season, I hope this isn’t the coach’s or the club’s intention.
“It is going to be a busy season, lot of games in program, I expect to play.
“It’s never nice to sit the bench and one tends to be less patient as his experience grows.
“There are many expectations on me, people thought I’d do the difference in every game, but it didn’t happen.

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Christian Erkisen was part of the squad which lost last seasons Europa League final to Sevilla

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Former club Tottenham were reportedly offered the chance to sign Christian Eriksen on loan this summer

“That’s why they are looking at me with different eyes.
“I’ve had highs and lows after the lockdown. I had a great start with Inter after I arrived and now I am living in a new situation.”
Eriksen has the chance to prove his worth when Denmark face England in the Nations League on October 14th.

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FORMER Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri is reportedly being lined up by Fiorentina after his Juventus exit.
The Turin giants brutally sacked Sarri in August even though he led them to Serie A glory after a tense battle with Inter Milan and Lazio.

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Maurizio Sarri is being lined up to take charge at FiorentinaCredit: PA:Press Association

And Tuttomercatoweb claims he is now in Fiorentina’s sights after their poor start to the new campaign.
Despite adding the likes of Borja Valero, Jose Callejon and Giacomo Bonaventura to their ranks this summer, Fiorentina have already lost two of their opening three league matches.
And the pressure is building on Giuseppe Iachini even though he has been in the job for less than a year.

Fiorentina apparently believe Sarri is the man to lead them to greatness due to his unwavering tactical philosophy and impressive achievements over the last three years at Napoli, Chelsea and Juve.

Sarri took a well-drilled Napoli side within touching distance of the Serie A title before winning the Europa League and securing a third-place Premier League finish at Chelsea.
He left the Blues after just one season following Juventus’ approach.
And Sarri is now said to be negotiating his contract compensation after leading Juve to another Scudetto, freeing him up to take charge at a new club before Christmas.
Roma are also thought to be keeping tabs on Sarri with Paulo Fonseca struggling to impress.

But one man desperate for Sarri to take charge at Fiorentina is close friend Aurelio Virgili, who is the son of Viola legend and former Italy international Giuseppe Virgili.
He told Tuttosport: “When I recently went to eat at Maurizio’s house, I didn’t see where he placed his Tricolor medal, but I gave him a personalised bottled dedicated to the triumph.
“I, like all Fiorentina fans, despite having the utmost respect for Iachini, have a dream: Maurizio in Florence.
“Seeing him win with Fiorentina would be the best.”

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CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN has warned Inter Milan he could leave as he ‘doesn’t want to sit on the bench’.
The former Tottenham ace has been a bit-part player since his San Siro switch at the start of the year.

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Christian Eriksen has warned Inter Milan he does not want to sit on the benchCredit: Getty Images – Getty

And Eriksen was left as an unused substitute for Inter’s 1-1 draw against title rivals Lazio before the international break.
It’s reckoned Antonio Conte has been less than impressed with Eriksen’s work rate, forcing him into a move for Barcelona’s Arturo Vidal over the summer.
Inter were reportedly open to summer offers for the Denmark international, who spent seven-and-a-half years in London before his Serie A switch.

And it was even claimed Eriksen had been offered BACK to Spurs despite Jose Mourinho having no interest in his services.
Paris Saint-Germain were also linked with a deadline day bid for the playmaker.
And Eriksen has now told Inter he expects to play plenty of games in the new term – otherwise he could force his way out in January.
The midfielder declared: “I don’t want to sit on the bench for the whole season.

“I hope this isn’t the coach’s or the club’s intention. It is going to be a busy season, a lot of games, I expect to play.

“It is never nice to sit on the bench and one tends to be less patient as his experience grows.
“There are many expectations on me, people thought I’d be the difference in every game, but it didn’t happen.
“That’s why they are looking at me with different eyes. I’ve had highs and lows after the lockdown.
“I had a great start with Inter after I arrived and now I am living in a new situation.”

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