Doha
\nCarlo Ancelotti thinks \u201cexceptional\u201d Cristiano Ronaldo still has plenty to offer at the highest level amid doubts about his future.
\nMany believe Ronaldo, 37, is no longer the player he once was after failing to nail down a place in Erik ten Hag\u2019s team at Manchester United this season. The free agent was released from his contract by mutual consent in November after criticising the club.
\nRonaldo has also been dropped by Portugal boss Fernando Santos at the World Cup. His replacement Goncalo Ramos scored a hat-trick in the 6-1 win against Switzerland, leaving his participation in Portugal\u2019s quarter-final against Morocco on Saturday in doubt.
\nDespite Ronaldo\u2019s recent tribulations, Ancelotti is still a huge fan of the five-time Ballon d\u2019Or winner. Ronaldo worked under the Italian at Real Madrid between 2013 and 2015, helping the Spanish giants win a coveted 10th European Cup – also known as \u201cLa Decima\u201d.
\nAncelotti, who was re-appointed Real\u2019s manager in June 2021, told Mais Futebol : \u201cRonaldo\u2019s last dance? I don\u2019t know, he probably still feels like he\u2019s 20 because he\u2019s okay, he\u2019s got the answers he\u2019s looking for in his body.
\n\u201cHe\u2019s always taken great care of your physique. However, the competition in the Portugal national team is very strong. I had him for two years, zero problems.
\n\u201cActually, he solved my problems. Can someone who scores at least one goal per game be considered a problem? Cristiano trains very well, pays attention to detail, for me it was very easy to deal with. He\u2019s an exceptional player.\u201d
\nAncelotti\u2019s comments may strengthen links between Ronaldo and Real. The reigning European champions are among the favourites to re-sign him with the bookies. Ronaldo is Real\u2019s record scorer after finding the net 450 times in 438 games between 2009 and 2018.
\nRonaldo is on the hunt for a new club after his messy Old Trafford exit, which unfolded after his sensational interview with Piers Morgan. He slammed United\u2019s owners the Glazers and Ten Hag, as well as the likes of Gary Neville, Wayne Rooney and Ralf Rangnick.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Doha Carlo Ancelotti thinks \u201cexceptional\u201d Cristiano Ronaldo still has plenty to offer at the highest level amid doubts about his future. Many believe Ronaldo, 37, is no longer the player he once was after failing to nail down a place in Erik ten Hag\u2019s team at Manchester United this season. The free agent was released […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-300608","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n