Former Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti says Karim Benzema is the perfect foil for record-scoring striker Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Portuguese forward has stolen all the headlines in recent weeks having surpassed Raul as Real’s all-time leading goalscorer.
But Ancelotti says his strike partner deserves plenty of praise for the work he does to enable Ronaldo to get on the end of chances.
Speaking to Canal+, the Italian said: “I think that Ronaldo’s success is largely down to Benzema’s hard work. Karim is a calm guy. He is a very relaxed and humble guy, but he is a great player. I really like Benzema.
“His style of play allows Ronaldo to shine and score, even though he is still a player of the highest level. I believe Benzema and Ronaldo are the perfect attacking duo.”
Ancelotti spent two years at the Santiago Bernabeu before departing in the summer. And he spoke about his dismissal, saying he knew if would have happened a year earlier if he hadn’t won the Champions League.
“The truth is that Madrid probably already wanted me out after one season and that is what would have happened if it weren’t for our Champions League win. But I was well aware that they would replace me if I didn’t win something in my second year,” he commented.
[…] from becoming just a foil for Ronaldo — though Carlo Ancelotti mentioned all through his Bernabeu tenure that he is the ideal partner for the Portuguese — Benzema is […]