Ronaldo is easily one of the top two players in the game at the moment and is generally a huge fan favourite amongst supporters of former club Manchester United and current side Real. However, his popularity amongst neutrals remains lukewarm with many preferring Barcelona ace Lionel Messi – the other player widely considered as the best in the world – as they perceived the Argentinean to be a far more humble player. Aside from his off the field lifestyle of fast cars and model girlfriends, Ronaldo’s on the field behaviour is often seen as petulant especially when things are not going his way. The 27-year-old Portugal international offers an entirely different view of things, though, as illustrated by a recent report in The Sun.
“I take things seriously,” he said in the UK tabloid.
“I’m not someone who laughs a lot and it sometimes ends up prejudicing people against me as they think I’m arrogant or dislikeable.
“We shouldn’t judge people from just what we hear or see.”
Whether fans like or not, Ronaldo will very much be the centre of attention when Real travel to Manchester for the second leg of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie against United in March next year.
The game will mark Ronaldo’s first game back at Old Trafford – where he scored many of his 118 goals in 292 appearances for the Red Devils – since his world-record €94m deal to join Madrid in 2009.
“It is an interesting one, of course,” Ronaldo’s ex-United team-mate, Edwin van der Sar said. “I know for sure that both managers and players would have preferred to maybe meet a little bit later in the tournament, but that is what the draw does to you, so you have to make sure that you win your group,” “It is great, especially for the fans who get to see Ronaldo back at Old Trafford. The managers respect each other greatly and it will be a great game.” United travel to the Spanish capital for the first leg in February.
