"When it was time for business, it was time for business" - Ex-Al Nassr star details experience of playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo
Former Al Nassr player, Aziz Behich recently detailed his experience playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo for the six months this year. The Australian star arrived at the Saudi Pro League club on loan from Melbourne City and played 253 minutes across three games for the side.
Behich joined the A-League side from Dundee United in 2023 for €550k before joining the Arabian side in a loan deal that saw €1.21 million go the other way. About his move to Al-Nassr and playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, he said via the A-League'sofficial site:
"It was great, He was someone I looked up to because I loved watching (Manchester) United, especially back in the day. At his age people see what he’s doing but being there first hand, day to day basis, seeing his preparation and the one-percent things he does, it’s no surprise anymore to me that at his age he’s banging in goals every week and breaking records."
He concluded:
“As a teammate, he was great. I didn’t go there with any expectation about what he’s going to be like, or the other players. He would be a joker at times but the thing I loved was when it was time for business, it was time for business, then the expectation would be very high. Training had to be perfect."
Cristiano Ronaldo ended last season with 44 goals and 13 assists in 45 appearances for Al Nassr in all competitions but was unable to help them secure any silverware.
What Cristiano Ronaldo told himself before he converted his freekick for Al Nassr against Abha last season
According to lip readers, Cristiano Ronaldo told himself that he was the ''best" before his free-kick goal in his side's rout of Abha on April 2, 2024. The reader reveals the striker's incredible self-belief and a moment where it paid off spectacularly as he scored the opening goal of the game.
Gustavo Machado, the lip reader revealed to Machado via Goal that the legendary forward told himself:
"You are the best. You know you're the best and you're going to score. It's going to be a goal, it's going to be a goal. You know it's going to be a goal."
Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr side went on to secure a comfortable 8-0 win at their opponent's expense. The Portuguese legend bagged a hattrick and also provided an assist in an undoubtedly spectacular performance from the star.