Ruud van Nistelrooy on the best player he played alongside

Ruud van Nistelrooy has named Ronaldo as the most impressive teammate he’s played alongside.

The Brazilian legend is well known for being one of the greatest players of all time. From his international legacy to what he did in club football, his career was glittering.

On the flip-side you’ve got van Nistelrooy who, in his own right, was one of the best strikers of his generation. He may not have had the same technical ability as Ronaldo but you’d struggle to find a better finisher to have played the game.

The Brazilian maestro

Back in 2006 when Ruud signed for Real Madrid, Ronaldo was entering into the last phase of his tenure at the Bernabeu before moving to AC Milan in 2007.

But during an appearance on Rio Ferdinand’s Vibe with FIVE podcast, RVN made it clear that Ronaldo was still at the top of his game.

“I signed there and of course, Ronaldo Fenomeno was there. 

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“The thing is he already had so many injuries on his knee, his weight, people know all about it. But then we do four vs four in training – oh my god Rio. 

“I’ve been applauding, I’ve been screaming, I’ve been bowing. I was like, ‘okay you’re pulling this off now, you at your best? Oh my, that is impossible’. This is the best ability I have seen in my life.”

The Dutchman spent five years with Manchester United prior to his four-year spell in Madrid.

“Antonio Cassano, he was at Madrid at the time, an Italian striker, he would tell Ronaldo ‘if you didn’t have any injuries or lived in a more professional way you would have won the Ballon d’Or seven times, eight times.’

“I agreed with that. Of course we are all champions, Champions League winners, won everything in the game, but if he had been able – injury, lifestyle whatever you call it – oh my god, you cannot imagine.”

Featured image credit: Getty