download All Football App

Sami Khedira explains how Ronaldo has evolved since leaving Real Madrid

  /  Stamfordblue

Sami Khedira explains how Cristiano Ronaldo has evolved since his spell at Real Madrid.

The 34-year-old German has played with Ronaldo at the La Liga side and more recently Juventus before retiring from the game. He told ESPN FC that there have been 'two Cristianos' during the Portuguese star's illustrious career.

He explained: "I met two Cristianos. So the first was at Real Madrid.

"He was a bit younger, maybe a bit more unsecure and selfish, but not in a bad way. Just like he has to find his personality.

"He scored many, many, many goals. He was fantastic.

"But he has not got that influence into a team. Then he moved to Juventus, my second period of Cristiano.

"He has the same spirit, the same selfish(ness) and ego that he wants to score, but he was more a leader, a more natural leader so he always spoke to his teammates pushing for them. He was like, 'I know if I would like to win the Scudetto or the Champions League, I need even more my teammates'."

Khedira explained that he advised his Juventus teammates that Ronaldo is 'special' on the pitch and had a ruthlessly competitive side to his game. In training matches, Khedira admitted that the 37-year-old liked to put bets on who would win games of 4v4 with bottles of wine or money at stake.

Ronaldo is a five time winner of the Ballon D'or and has won nearly all the major trophies on the domestic and international stage. Tuesday's defeat to Atletico Madrid ensured that this would be the first time in 12 years that Ronaldo has not lifted a trophy.