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RAFAEL VAN DER VAART playfully expressed his views on why he considers Cristiano Ronaldo the most committed player he has ever known.
At 41 years old, Van der Vaart and 39-year-old Ronaldo were teammates at Real Madrid for a single season before Van der Vaart moved to Tottenham in 2010.
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Credit: Getty
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Credit: Getty
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Credit: Getty
Even though their time together was short, the Manchester United star left a significant mark on the former Netherlands player with his unwavering perseverance.
Ronaldo’s intense dedication has earned him five Ballon d’Or awards and five Champions League titles during his remarkable 22-year career, which continues with his current club, Al-Nassr.
Van der Vaart mentioned that the iconic forward was frequently seen training instead of hanging out in the locker room.
He jokingly remarked that he seldom spotted Ronaldo in the changing area.
On talkSPORT’s ‘The LineUp, Van der Vaart recalled: “He barely left his house!”
“As a joke, I say Ronaldo is the only player I never saw naked!”
“He was consistently the first to arrive at training and the last to leave.”
“Moreover, his physique was astonishing! He was ahead of the game, although today’s players now meet that standard.”
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“His dedication to gym training, nutrition, and recovery was crucial—far more important than merely training harder.”
“Ronaldo was remarkably self-centered; even if we won 6-0, he felt dissatisfied unless he scored. On the other hand, if he scored twice in a defeat, he would be pleased!”
Van der Vaart reveals Redknapp’s three-word half-time team-talk that inspired Tottenham to Arsenal triumph
Although Van der Vaart never celebrated any championships alongside Ronaldo, the Portuguese star secured his first major trophy with Real in 2010, winning the Copa del Rey.
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