Monitor News Desk
Cristiano Ronaldo has a new fan and he is none other than Lionel Messi.
Messi has described Ronaldo’s return to Manchester United as “impressive”.
Ronaldo, 36, scored six goals in his first eight appearances in all competitions after re-joining United following his departure from Juventus.
“Cristiano already knew the club but that was at a different stage and now he has adapted in an impressive manner. From the start, he has scored goals as he always does and had no problems adapting,” Messi told Marca.
Ronaldo, who is, alongside Messi, on the 30-man shortlist for the Ballon d’Or and nominated for FIFA’s best men’s player of the 2020-21 season, spent six years at United from 2003 to 2009 in his first spell there.
He then moved to Real Madrid, where he had a successful nine-year spell that included a big rivalry with Messi.
“Time has passed since we competed in the same league,” the Argentina captain said of Ronaldo.
“We not only competed on an individual level but also on a team level for the same aims. It was a very beautiful stage for us and for people because they enjoyed it very much. It’s a beautiful memory that will remain in football history.”
Sunday’s 4-1 defeat at Watford was United’s fifth loss in their past seven Premier League games and left them in eighth place in the standings, 12 points behind leaders Chelsea.
“United is a very strong team with great players,” Messi said. “The Premier League is a very difficult competition and a leveled one, and things can turn around many times. After December, a lot of changes, and anything can happen.”
Messi, meanwhile, said he has “fully adapted” to PSG and to being in the same changing room as former Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos.
Ramos joined PSG as a free agent weeks before PSG announced the arrival of Messi from Barcelona.
The veteran defender has yet to make his debut with PSG, having struggled with injuries.
“Now it isn’t, but at first it was weird after so many years of rivalry, being the two captains of Barca and Madrid, after so many Clasicos played, so many fights we had on the pitch,” Messi said.
Another player who is and will be key for PSG is Kylian Mbappe.
France forward revealed he had wanted to leave PSG the past summer for Real Madrid. PSG refused to sell the player, who becomes a free agent in June.
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