Cristiano Ronaldo brutally told he is 'not a unique player'

Cristiano Ronaldo has been told he is "not a unique player" despite all he has achieved in the game.

In his first press conference after signing an eye-watering £175 million-a-year deal with Al Nassr, Ronaldo proclaimed that "this contract is unique because I am a unique player".

But the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's comments have been dismantled by West Ham United vice-chairman Karren Brady, who said it reeks of "conceit".

She claims Ronaldo doesn't do anything others can't do and is obsessed with long-time rival Lionel Messi.

"Maybe there’s a lot to like about Ronaldo," she wrote in her column for The Sun.

"He’s athletic and an unstoppable goalscorer. But this recent comment reeks of conceit: ‘I’m happy, proud to join Al Nassr . . . This contract is unique because I am a unique player. It’s normal for me.’

"For a start he isn’t a unique player. He does most things well and some brilliantly but nothing others can’t or haven’t. Neither Messi nor Pele would say anything like this.

And nudging at Ronaldo all the time is his obsession with Messi, whose career at Barcelona was at least the equal of his at Real Madrid."

After his contract was Manchester United contract was terminated following his explosive interview with Piers Morgan, Ronaldo signed a two-and-a-half year deal with Al Nassr and spoke about wanting to inspire the next generation in Saudi Arabia.

He scored twice in his first game in the kingdom as the Riyadh XI played Messi and Paris Saint-Germain in a lucrative friendly.

Image: Alamy

But he's failed to score in his first two games for Al Nassr, with his last appearance a 3-1 loss to Al Ittihad in the Saudi Super Cup.

Ronaldo missed a huge chance to equalise with a header that was saved and manager Rudi Garcia pinpointed it as a turning point in the game.

"One of the things that changed the course of the match was Cristiano Ronaldo's missed opportunity in the first half," the former Roma and Lyon boss told reporters.

Image: Alamy

To make matters worse, Ronaldo was subjected to Lionel Messi chants by the opposition supporters.

He will be looking to open his account against Al Fateh on Friday 3 February in the Saudi Pro League.