Former Manchester United striker Federico Macheda claims Cristiano Ronaldo is from a ‘different world’.
The Italian joined Manchester United in 2007 and broke into the first team during the 2008/09 season, scoring an incredible debut winner against Aston Villa to help the Reds go on to become Premier League champions.
Ronaldo was already the best player in the world at United, but he left Old Trafford in 2009 to pursue his dream at Real Madrid. There he would continue to establish himself as the world’s best footballer in constant competition with former Barcelona star Lionel Messi.
Speaking to Rio Ferdinand on the Vibe with Five podcast, Macheda said: “I would say that Ronaldo was the one [player at United] who was out of a different world.
“This is the kind of player you have to look into because as I have said before about myself of not wanting more, this guy had everything, won everything and still wanted more. I remember him going from the gym after training to swimming for one hour.
“I was there in the jacuzzi with other players after training, which is normal, and he was just swimming for one hour – up and down, up and down. Back then I should have had this view, this mentality to think: ‘I should do the same probably, look at this guy’.
“If I was to go back then I would look into this guy as an example and follow every little step that he was making because he was something unbelievable.”
At 37, Ronaldo is still playing at the highest level and will be at the World Cup later this year. I think it’s fair to say he is from a different world but all good things must come to an end.
