Real Madrid v Man Utd: Cristiano Ronaldo 'bullies defenders'

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Real Madrid and ex-Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo

Gary Neville has described Real Madrid star and ex-Manchester United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo as a "bully" who preys on defenders' weaknesses.

Ex-captain Neville played alongside the Portuguese forward from 2003 to 2009.

Before his old side's Champions League trip to Madrid, Neville said: "Ronaldo is a bully. He bullies the weakest defender. He does it all the time."

Wednesday's last-16 tie at the Bernabeu will be Ronaldo's first game against United since his £80m move in 2009.

Neville, who played 602 times for United, also praised his former team-mate for changing his view on how the game should be played.

The former England right-back added: "He changed my perception.

"We had a midfield four - Beckham, Keane, Scholes, Giggs - I played with Beckham for seven years. They never had the freedom to decide their position on the pitch.

"Suddenly I didn't have someone in front of me who would come back and double up on the [opposition's] left-winger.

"In those early years he used to go wandering off.

"He was told to play on the right by Sir Alex Ferguson and would end up on the left. That was unheard of.

"By the end of Ronaldo's Manchester United career I was willing him not to chase back so he was free.

"He just decided his own position, which was based upon where the space was and who was the weak link. He made me realise you didn't always need to be in your shape.

"We had a player who was beyond a level of talent I had ever seen. He would go and win us game after game. I suppose that is more important."

Ronaldo, 28, scored his 20th hat-trick since arriving in Spain during Real Madrid's 4-1 defeat of Seville on Saturday.

He has now scored 182 for the Spanish giants from only 179 games.

Neville is convinced Ronaldo is a better player than when he left Old Trafford.

"Now, he is a monster," he added. "I saw him on Saturday evening. He picks the ball up in an innocuous position, 30 yards out, does some type of shimmy I can't even describe let alone do, beats a man and whacks it in from 25 yards.

"You can't defend against that.

"Then he scores a counter-attack goal when he chases 80 yards forward, then he preys on the back of the centre-half and scores a hat-trick inside 30 minutes."

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson may ask Phil Jones to man-mark Ronaldo in the Champions League game, although Neville is not certain that will contain him.

"You literally need to have two men against him. Even then they might both get beaten," he told BBC Radio 5 live.

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222 comments

  • Anyone who follows Gary on twitter would know his words have been taken out of context. He even predicted the headline. Look on his twitter if you don't believe me.

    Well done BBC

  • At least the BBC have changed the ridiculous headline they used earlier. Massive fan of the corporation, but the sensationalist headlines and attempts to grab readers in recent weeks - with the latest "Ronaldo is a bully" headline being amongst the more ridiculous.

  • Glad the BBC changed the title of this article from the much more sensationalist "Ronaldo is a bully - Neville" since the first time I looked at at.

  • "@GNev2 : I can see the headlines already being prepared ' Cristiano will bully United' ! That's not what I have said! Please beware!"
    Headline - Cristiano Ronaldo Bullies Defenders.

  • Nice to see they changed the title from the misleading 'Gary Neville says Ronaldo is a bully'.

  • Agree with others regarding the title, first thought it meant Ronaldo behind the scenes bullied other players!

    Please BBC watch Gary Neville do tactical analysis on Sky Sports tonight and get your pundits to understand just saying 'bundles of energy' 'men behind the ball' or other cliché's over the same clips we have already seen in the highlights is not good analysis!

  • I love how the original article was titled "Ronaldo bullies defenders". It's absolutely ridiculous how the BBC always find a way to play on a persons words.

    I really can't wait for United to play Madrid though, I have a strong feeling that United will get the better of Madrid. The team spirit is exceptionally strong and although our defense is ropey, our attack is sublime!

  • 182 goals in 179 games. Hardly ever misses a game and does it in the biggest games. Did it for United, done it in Madrid and does it for his country. Whatever you think of him he is a great. Not the best player in La Liga but possibly the 2nd best player ever. Bale being compared to him is far too early. Lets see if he does it next year, and the year after and the year after.

  • @142. Eduard_Streltsov_Ghost

    @138 Bale's "array of skills"
    1. Run fast in straight line
    2. Kick the ball forwards & run
    3. Cross the ball
    4. Hit powerful shot
    5. Repeat from 1-4

    ===========

    You missed out number 6.

    6... Kick ball past Rio Ferdinand jog slowly alongside him as he gasps for breath and pop the ball beautifully into the corner of the Strettford End net beyond the Spanish Flapper.

  • Thats three times this headline has been changed. Maybe try being "BBC" in your reporting from the start instead of the red top trash that you've been mimicking of late???

  • Luis Suarez said " I have been eating Findus Lasagne for years, it's never done me any harm"

  • Had to comment somewhere on Suarez's dive tonight. BBC state he was crashed into by Olsson. If the BBC don't call a dive a dive he'll carry on getting away with it. At least tonight the cheat didn't prosper.

  • 81. Sussex by the Sea
    9 MINUTES AGO

    awwww. bless. man utd are playing on wednesday.

  • @37 I hate people who consistently state 'the footballing side' should win. I would to you to show me in the football rule book where it says every team should try to play like Barcelona.

    At the end of the day winning games matters. I am not a Man U fan but admire their direct style of play. They play with a great deal of width and pace. I don't see how this doesn't make them a 'footballing side'

  • @i44, I think you are a little man with little ego. The subject is on Ronaldo and not Messi. It is exclusive and direct. You are not the only one that hates man U but be a little bit insightful not to show your little mind while struggling so much to express your hate.

  • 104. Mourinho might be a (slightly) better tactician than Ferguson, but "twice the manager"? That's laughable. I don't know many United fans who would wany Mourinho when SAF retires. He couldn't build a dynasty, or develop young talent the way that Ferguson has.

  • Every player can have off days.. but the problem with madrid is you gota hope the whole team is off...

  • "Midfield is where this game will be won and Uniteds is among the worst in the Premier League."

    Really?

    That is all.

  • Im an Evertonian so could never stand Gary Neville, but I have to say he tells you how it is, he's turned into a damn good pundit, cant fault a word he said there, remember we never played, he did and his views count, Ronaldo is a very special player and deserves the credit, he may not be everyone's cup of tea personally but talent wise one of the best ever

  • The only way UTD are getting through is if someone slips Ronnie a few sleeping pills an hour before the game!

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