Alex Telles has played alongside Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United and Al-Nassr, making him well placed to determine whether CR7 is “annoying”.
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All-time great demands the bestDrags team-mates along with himConsidered to be a 'born leader'WHAT HAPPENED?
The Brazilian full-back was joined at Old Trafford by Ronaldo in 2021, having been in England for a little under a year at that point, and has subsequently been reunited with the Portuguese in Saudi Arabia after making his own move to the Middle East in 2023.
AdvertisementGettyWHAT TELLES SAID ABOUT RONALDO
Telles has told when asked if Ronaldo can be “annoying when the team isn’t winning”, with the 39-year-old famed for demanding the best of himself and those around him: “He is a born captain and leader, everyone knows his way of dealing with football, due to his professionalism… And the good thing about that is that he is a positive leader, always pushing the team for the positive, he never lets the team throw in the towel. We use that as an example, he is very influential in our team, for us he is an asset.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Telles jumped at the chance to join Ronaldo in Riyadh, with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner convincing him to make a switch from the Premier League to Saudi Pro League. The 31-year-old left-back added: “Cristiano Ronaldo was a very important part of my coming here. We exchanged messages beforehand. My agent was involved. But obviously, when it comes to the legend Cristiano Ronaldo, the greatness he has clearly made it easier for me to come. We talked a lot. He told me what the club was like and that he was looking forward to me coming. I’m happy to have a player and human being like him (alongside me), with all his dedication for me to come here. So all this effort I make for myself is also for him, for Al-Nassr and for all the players who are here.”
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Ronaldo sat out Al-Nassr’s latest fixture through suspension, after being punished for his response to “Messi” taunts from the crowd, but he should be back – with 34 goals to his name this season – for the first leg of an AFC Champions League quarter-final clash with Al-Ain on Monday.