You are here: HomeSportsSoccer2020 05 19Article 358129

Soccer News of Tuesday, 19 May 2020

Source: www.mynigeria.com

What Ronaldo told us before leaving Manchester United - Nani

Nani and Ronaldo Nani and Ronaldo

Former Manchester United player, Nani has revealed what Cristiano Ronaldo told his teammates before he left Old Trafford.

Ronaldo left the English Premier League for Real Madrid in a £80 million pounds world-record deal in 2009.

Recounting the final period his Portuguese compatriot spent at Manchester United, Nani described it as "fantastic moment".

“We would stay at the end of training to do competitions and they [Anderson & Ronaldo] were my teammates, everyone has best friends or some they feel more comfortable with and they were my support,” Nani told the UTD Podcast.

“Some days he [Ronaldo] was telling us openly ‘I’m here six or seven years now, I think it’s enough for me’ he said that a couple of times.

“But it was always ‘I will see, I will see, I will see’ but we never thought it [Real Madrid move] would happen so fast. After we won the league in the second year he left, he produced a great season so we were still surprised.”

Ronaldo was the reason Nani followed his path from Sportin Lisbon to Manchester United where they became very close.

However, there was always a need to be competitive because that was Ronaldo's character.

“You know Cristiano is very competitive and staying in his house for a day means he can challenge you anytime,” continued Nani.

“He had a swimming pool, tennis court, ping pong table. Every time there was a discussion about who was right or who was better, the only time we were not playing was the night time.

"We were sitting on the sofa talking and Cristiano disappears [to bed] but we learn that because me and Anderson in the morning we were always tired but Cristiano was already up two hours earlier. It was fantastic moments and great memories we had.”

Nani moved on from Old Trafford and has had spells at Fenerbahce, Valencia and Sporting Lisbon before moving to the MLS.