Ronaldo’s transfer advice to Messi. When the Portuguese superstar was playing for Serie A powerhouse Juventus in 2018, Cristiano Ronaldo wanted Lionel Messi to go to Italy.
In the 2018 summer transfer window, Ronaldo moved from Real Madrid to the Turin-based team for €117 million. The two legendary players’ long-running rivalry in La Liga came to an end when he moved to Italy.
Messi worked for Barcelona for three more years before transferring for free to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the summer of 2021.
In December 2018 (via Scroll), when questioned by the media about his rivalry with the Argentine, Cristiano Ronaldo responded as follows: “I hope he visits Italy sometime. I hope he accepts the challenge as I do, but I respect him if he’s content where he is.
When asked further if he missed Messi when he was in Italy, he responded as follows: “No, perhaps he’s the one who misses me… While he is still in Spain, I have played in England, Spain, Italy, Portugal, and for my national team. He might be more in need of me. Life is a challenge for me, and I enjoy it and enjoy making other people happy.”
Ronaldo continued, “He’s a great player and a kind guy, but I don’t miss anything here. “I’m content with my new life right now. I took on this challenge here in Turin outside of my comfort zone, and everything went well, demonstrating that I am still a fantastic player.
Prior to joining Manchester United again in 2021, Cristiano Ronaldo played three seasons in Italy. He abruptly quit the Red Devils the following November and signed with Al Nassr of the Saudi Pro League.
Messi, meanwhile, played for PSG for two seasons before joining Inter Miami of Major League Soccer (MLS).
The Cristiano Ronaldo-Lionel Messi rivalry in Spain:
When Cristiano Ronaldo transferred from Manchester United to Real Madrid in 2009, the rivalry between him and Lionel Messi began. The two frequently competed head-to-head for all of the main individual honors in club football while setting multiple goal-scoring records.
Before departing for Juventus in 2018, Ronaldo went on to record 311 goals in just 292 games in La Liga. While playing for Barcelona, Messi scored 474 La Liga goals in 520 games.
The Argentine won 10 La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions League (UCL) medals with the Blaugrana, while his opponent, Real Madrid, won two league crowns and four UCLs.
In the 36 games in which they have faced off, Messi and Ronaldo have combined for 21 goals, while Ronaldo has scored 20. While the latter has won five, the former has won seven Ballons d’Or.
Keep an eye on your favorite stars and their performance on the field with the newest football updates and rumors.
