Xabi Alonso's view on Cristiano Ronaldo is very clear amid surprise rumours that he could be heading to Bayer Leverkusen.
Ronaldo is now 39 years of age but still going strong, having scored 48 goals in 47 games in all competitions for Al Nassr this term.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner is happy in Saudi Arabia and still contracted until 2025.
Advert
However, the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star has been linked with a shock return to European football with Leverkusen.
The Bundesliga winners, who are still on course for an incredible unbeaten, treble-winning campaign, will be back in the Champions League next term.
It's claimed that Leverkusen are interested in signing Ronaldo, who has played in England, Spain and Italy but never Germany.
Ronaldo has allegedly been recommended by Alonso, who played with him during their time at the Santiago Bernabeu.
He has not responded to the transfer speculation but in previous years, has always been full of praise for Ronaldo.
“Cristiano made everything very easy," he said in an interview with Coaches Voice.
"I get the ball, I find him and he used to do his individual action to score."
Back in 2016, when Alonso was playing for Bayern, he hailed the Portuguese superstar's goalscoring prowess and called for him to join him in the Bundesliga.
“Cristiano has adapted on the pitch. He’s not a central striker, [but] he wants to play closer to the area,” Alonso told Onda Cero, as per Teamtalk.
“He intuitively knows where the ball will go – a lot of goals are scored with his first touch.
“I think he’s done very well, having taken this step and getting closer to the area. As long as he’s getting 50 goals, I wish we had someone like him here. Cristiano’s numbers are amazing, indisputable.”
Having already wrapped up a first title in their history, Leverkusen have two huge finals coming thick and fast.
Just days apart, they contest the Europa League final against Atalanta and then the DFB Pokal against Kaiserslautern.
Topics: Xabi Alonso, Cristiano Ronaldo, Bayer Leverkusen
Josh Lawless