SUPER-AGENT Jorge Mendes insists Cristiano Ronaldo will “always be in my heart” despite their recent split.
The Portuguese legend, 38, was represented by Mendes for most of his legendary career.
PA:Empics SportJorge Mendes represented Cristiano Ronaldo for most of the star’s career[/caption]
ReutersThe super-agent and legendary forward parted ways earlier this year[/caption]
However, their relationship became strained last summer after he failed to get Ronaldo a switch to either Bayern Munich or Chelsea as he tried to secure his exit from Manchester United.
A transfer to the Bundesliga giants or Premier League outfit never materialised.
And instead Ronaldo ended up joining Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr in January after an explosive fall-out with United following an interview with Piers Morgan.
That decision to appear on Piers Morgan Uncensored was not supported by Mendes.
It led to an official parting of the ways soon after Ronaldo had negotiated his own deal to head to the Middle East.
But there does not appear to be any ill-feeling towards the forward from Mendes as he broke his silence on the split.
He said: “How do I see this phase of his life? Cristiano will always be in my heart. He is a special player and a special person for me. If I, a few years ago, thought that I could have a player with half the value of Cristiano, I would sign for less!
“And all of us Portuguese should be proud to have had and still have a player like him. I’ve always said it and I’ll say it all my life: he was and is the best player in the entire history of world football! I don’t have the slightest doubt, even compared to others.”
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Mendes added: “You have to see what he managed to do. Football is goals! There’s a lot of strength there and a lot of work too.
“He’s an example for young people and he’s done everything a great professional would have to do… because he’s the best of them all! But it is also true that he was a virtuous player when he was young: you were talking about Ronaldinho Gaucho and Messi, but when he was young, Cristiano was also virtuous!
“And strong in the ‘one on one’, and explosive! Cristiano has turned into a machine! Many people never really thought about that growth process that led him, in fact, to be the best in history. And for me, he will always be the best in history.”
Ronaldo’s first season at Al-Nassr has ended in major disappointment after they were pipped to the title last week to end the season trophyless.