Stefano Pioli reveals why Cristiano Ronaldo receives special treatment at Al-Nassr

The Portuguese will return to action next week for the SPL side.

Stefano Pioli has described why Cristiano Ronaldo is given preferential treatment at Al-Nassr and how he differs from Zlatan Ibrahimovic, a legend of AC Milan.

In 2023, the five-time winner of the Ballon d’Or, Ronaldo made a spectacular transfer to the Middle East. In his record-breaking career, he has made 89 appearances and scored 80 goals for Al-Nassr, aiming for 1,000 goals overall.

At 39, Ronaldo still holds himself to the greatest standards and continues to inspire his teammates in the Saudi Pro League as well as his millions of fans worldwide. Because of that standing, Pioli and his coaching staff regard CR7 a little differently.

The Italian tactician has told Gazzetta dello Sport about working with the Portuguese GOAT: “If I arrive half an hour early, he’s there 25 minutes early. He’s always the first to get on the bus. He’s a perfectionist who demands a lot from himself and from others. He lives for the team, he helps, and he advises. Sometimes I let him talk to the players. I can’t treat him like the others, but he’s intelligent and he respects his role and mine.”

Pioli previously achieved Serie A title success with Ibrahimovic at AC Milan, so Ronaldo is not the only superstar he has collaborated with. When asked how CR7 differs from the mysterious Swedish striker, who also played into his 40s, Pioli responded, “They are different characters. Ibra had a strong personality and was impulsive. Cristiano is a legend who is huge and well-known worldwide. In the back of his mind, he has a thousand official objectives. He’s not far away and will score them.”

After their winter break, Ronaldo will play for Al-Nassr again on Thursday against Al Akhdoud. Given that his lucrative contract is set to end in the summer of 2025, a decision on his long-term future will eventually need to be taken.

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