Like Conor McGregor – Cristiano Ronaldo gives savage four-word response to Rafael van der Vaart interview
Cristiano Ronaldo has delivered a brutal put-down in response to Rafael van der Vaart’s talkSPORT interview. The former midfielder discussed his ex-Real Madrid teammate on ‘The LineUp’ and was very complimentary about a man, widely considered to be one of the best ever players. Ronaldo had a brutal response to Van der Vaart’s comments on talkSPORTGetty Both players spent a single season together at the Santiago Bernabeu following Ronaldo’s arrival in 2009 from Manchester United in what was a world record £80 million transfer. Although Los Blancos were forced to settle for second place and a last 16 exit from the Champions League, it was a stunning debut campaign for Ronaldo. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner scored 33 goals and provided 10 assists in 35 appearances across all competitions. Van der Vaart spoke highly of the 39-year-old, who is now at Al-Nassr, as he reflected on playing with him in the Spanish capital. In a wide ranging interview, the midfielder, who in addition to Real Madrid, played for Tottenham and Ajax as well as 109 times for the Netherlands, talked about how hard Ronaldo worked. He also included Ronaldo in his ultimate five-a-side team and pointed out just how dedidated he was to scoring. The 41-year-old explained: “Ronaldo was so unbelievably selfish, if we won 6-0 and he did not score, he was not happy. “When we lost but he scored twice, it’d be alright!” Not intended maliciously as Ronaldo knows that without his teammates he would not have scored 451 goals in 438 Real games. However, Ronaldo, when he saw one account on Instagram had taken just that quote without the context, had a savage reply. Commenting on the post, he wrote: “Who is that guy?” It was as if he was channelling his friend, the UFC star Conor McGregor, who famously put down fellow fighter Jeremy Stephens with the phrase at a press conference. The Dutchman had been complimentary of his former team-mate on ‘The LineUp’The Lineup on talkSPORT The duo lined up together 21 times for Real Madrid during the 2009/10 season. However, it would be their only campaign together, with Van der Vaart leaving for Tottenham in the summer for £8m. On Ronaldo’s work ethic, he joked: “He was the first one on the training (pitch)! And the last one who went.” Van der Vaart spent two seasons with Real between 2008 and 2010. During that time, he scored 12 goals and added 13 assists in 73 appearances. However, the only trophy he won was the Spanish Super Cup as his side missed out on the title to Barcelona in both seasons. In addition to Spurs, he also starred for Hamburg and Real Betis before a stint in Denmark with Midtjylland and Esbjerg. Van der Vaart retired in 2018 aged 35 having also scored 25 goals in 109 caps for the Netherlands. Since hanging up his boots, the retired playmaker has been a vocal television pundit as well as spending two years as an assistant manager at old club Esbjerg. Watch the full episode of The LineUp on talkSPORT
Cristiano Ronaldo has delivered a brutal put-down in response to Rafael van der Vaart’s talkSPORT interview.
The former midfielder discussed his ex-Real Madrid teammate on ‘The LineUp’ and was very complimentary about a man, widely considered to be one of the best ever players.
Both players spent a single season together at the Santiago Bernabeu following Ronaldo’s arrival in 2009 from Manchester United in what was a world record £80 million transfer.
Although Los Blancos were forced to settle for second place and a last 16 exit from the Champions League, it was a stunning debut campaign for Ronaldo.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner scored 33 goals and provided 10 assists in 35 appearances across all competitions.
Van der Vaart spoke highly of the 39-year-old, who is now at Al-Nassr, as he reflected on playing with him in the Spanish capital.
In a wide ranging interview, the midfielder, who in addition to Real Madrid, played for Tottenham and Ajax as well as 109 times for the Netherlands, talked about how hard Ronaldo worked.
He also included Ronaldo in his ultimate five-a-side team and pointed out just how dedidated he was to scoring.
The 41-year-old explained: “Ronaldo was so unbelievably selfish, if we won 6-0 and he did not score, he was not happy.
“When we lost but he scored twice, it’d be alright!” Not intended maliciously as Ronaldo knows that without his teammates he would not have scored 451 goals in 438 Real games.
However, Ronaldo, when he saw one account on Instagram had taken just that quote without the context, had a savage reply.
Commenting on the post, he wrote: “Who is that guy?” It was as if he was channelling his friend, the UFC star Conor McGregor, who famously put down fellow fighter Jeremy Stephens with the phrase at a press conference.
The duo lined up together 21 times for Real Madrid during the 2009/10 season.
However, it would be their only campaign together, with Van der Vaart leaving for Tottenham in the summer for £8m.
On Ronaldo’s work ethic, he joked: “He was the first one on the training (pitch)! And the last one who went.”
Van der Vaart spent two seasons with Real between 2008 and 2010.
During that time, he scored 12 goals and added 13 assists in 73 appearances.
However, the only trophy he won was the Spanish Super Cup as his side missed out on the title to Barcelona in both seasons.
In addition to Spurs, he also starred for Hamburg and Real Betis before a stint in Denmark with Midtjylland and Esbjerg.
Van der Vaart retired in 2018 aged 35 having also scored 25 goals in 109 caps for the Netherlands.
Since hanging up his boots, the retired playmaker has been a vocal television pundit as well as spending two years as an assistant manager at old club Esbjerg.
Watch the full episode of The LineUp on talkSPORT
