"Not really an explanation for that" - Manchester United duo name Cristiano Ronaldo as best player they've ever played with
Manchester United duo Casemiro and Luke Shaw have lavished praise on Al-Nassr superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. The pair named the five-time Ballon d'Or winner as the best player either has ever played with.
Ronaldo enjoyed nine years at Real Madrid between 2009 and 2018, while Casemiro was on the club's books from 2013 to 2022. During their time together at the Santiago Bernabeu, the pair amassed great success, including winning the Champions League three times in a row.
The former Real Madrid stars also played together at Manchester United during Ronaldo's second stint, albeit briefly. The Red Devils signed Casemiro in August 2022, a few months before Cristiano Ronaldo departed Old Trafford.
Meanwhile, Luke Shaw, who's been at United since 2014, played 32 times with the Portuguese superstar in his second stint, combining to score two goals.
During an interview with JD Football, Manchester United stars Casemiro and Shaw were asked to name the best player they've ever played with. The Brazilian midfielder said:
"Cristiano."
Meanwhile, Shaw said:
“Ronaldo, not really an explanation for that. I think he’s been one, if not the, best player in the world for a number of years so definitely him.”
Lisandro Martinez and Amad Diallo also featured in the interview, with the former picking Lionel Messi and the latter naming Marcus Rashford.
Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney names Cristiano Ronaldo as the best finisher he's played against
Manchester United great Wayne Rooney has hailed Cristiano Ronaldo as the best finisher he's ever played against.
While being known for their time together under Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford, the former England star has faced Ronaldo as an opponent on the pitch during his playing days. The pair encountered each other in the Champions League during the 2012-13 season, when the Portuguese superstar was at Real Madrid.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Sport, Rooney was asked to build the perfect player from those he's played against. The former United striker, amongst others, picked Ronaldo for his finishing and Lionel Messi for his dribbling. He said:
"Best finisher I've played against is probably Cristiano Ronaldo because he scored a lot of goals. He's a really good finisher."
"Best dribbler I've played against is Lionel Messi. He's so hard to play against. He's small, quick, keeps the ball very close to your feet and can make you look silly if you get too close."