adminthick as thieves.
But as Mourinho’s grip on Los Blancos began to fray, and the team relinquished their hard-fought league title and floundered in Europe yet again, the received wisdom of Mou and CR7’s buddy-buddy relationship proved something different.
They may not have gone their separate ways like Mou did with Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos and eventually even Pepe. But it was clear their shared nationality was no longer an immutable bond.
Mourinho has also scotched hopes of unsettled Ronaldo following him to Chelsea by admitted their relationship broke down at Real Madrid.
Chelsea were linked with a £60million summer move for the Portugal forward along with former club Manchester United and mega-rich Paris Saint-Germain.
But Mourinho, who began his second spell at Stamford Bridge on Monday, revealed that the pair fell out towards the end of his turbulent three-year reign at the Bernabeu because Ronaldo “thought he knew it all”.
And now that The Special One has taken up his old office at Chelsea, he has acknowledged that there was one major sticking point between him and Ronaldo.
While he accepts that CR7 was great to work due to his ability to star within the system, Mourinho says that the player’s inability to accept constructive criticism or tactical advice was a hindrance.
In effect, Mourinho has accused superstar Ronaldo of being a know-it-all.
“Cristiano has had three fantastic seasons with me, I don’t know if they were the best of his career because he had some fantastic moments with Manchester United,” Mou told Punto Pelota.
“I think we created a fantastic situation for him tactically in which he could express all his potential and turn that into records and goals.
“I had only one problem with him, very simple, very basic, which was when a coach criticises a player from a tactical viewpoint trying to improve what in my view could have been improved,” Mou explained of his sometimes strained relationship with Ronaldo.
“And at that moment he didn’t take it very well because maybe he thinks he knows everything and the coach cannot help him to develop more.”
“But there is no other problem. The last two games, which have been the only games in which he has not played because he always played before and he always gave everything for the team, in these last couple of weeks he has had this pain in his back and I don’t ever doubt the players when they say they are injured.”
Mourinho was also asked if Ronaldo’s closest friend at Madrid, Pepe, had betrayed him.
He said: “It is a good question for him not me. The only thing I can say is that he had one foot out of the club and I brought him back and I fought for him to be paid as a fantastic player like him should be paid.
“But he got injured and a kid 13 years younger (Raphael Varane) than him came in and I felt this other player deserved to stay in the team and he (Pepe) did not take it well. And then suddenly all the people that had done nothing but criticise him before were on his side (against me).”
Perhaps Ronaldo has a point, however. After all, he is renowned as a player who simply worked harder than anyone else to refine his natural talents to the point of almost superhuman ability.
And it is far easier to argue that Real Madrid need Ronaldo much more than they needed Mourinho.
And that is why, even if CR7 is a know-it-all who thinks he is beyond coaching, Madrid are doing everything in their power to keep him, while they couldn’t get Mourinho out the door fast enough.
“Cristiano Ronaldo is priceless,” Real president Florentino Perez reiterated according to El Mundo.
“We will do it (win the club’s 10th European Cup ). And Cristiano will score a goal in the final.” Ronaldo has indicated he will not renew his contract at Real Madrid beyond 2015. Real are determined not to sell the him this summer but United and PSG remain keen when he does come available.
Sir Alex Ferguson sold Ronaldo to Madrid in 2009, but the 28-year-old has admitted several times in the past few months that he is not totally happy in the Spanish capital.
Portuguese newspaper “A Bola” claimed Ronaldo feels he has not been treated well by the Real board despite his excellent performances on the playing field.
“A Bola” also stated the star has reportedly been offered a €60 million signing-on fee if he becomes a free agent at the end of his spell at the Bernabeu and signs for a certain newly-made-wealthy European club.
Madrid president Perez had said that he expected Ronaldo to end his career at the club, but it now appears he could be looking for a new club in the next two years.
If Ronaldo is true to his word, he would be leaving on a free, not something Madrid are likely to want after having splashed out £80m on him. Whether he would move back to United now their manager has changed is yet to be seen, but he could emulate Mourinho by going back to a club he knew appreciated him completely.
Meanwhile, Mourinho has given loyal assistant Aitor Karanka his blessing to remain in Madrid rather than head with him to Chelsea. Mourinho’s return to West London was confirmed on Monday after almost six years away from Stamford Bridge, with a number of his long-standing coaches installed alongside him.
Rui Faria, Silvino Louro and Jose Morain will all work under Mourinho next season but Karanka, who was such a trusty steed to the Portuguese during his often-stormy three-year spell in charge of Real Madrid, will be remaining in the Spanish capital. — Soccernet.
Online Reporter