Former Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso has said Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player he has ever played with.
The now Bayern Munich man left the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer to join the Bavarian giants after spending five years playing alongside the Portugal captain. In their time at the club, the pair helped the team win a host of trophies, with the highlight being the Champions League win in May – the club’s 10th European crown.
As the debate rages over who is more deserving of the Ballon d’Or, Alonso is one of the best placed to comment on the award. He’s played alongside Ronaldo in the peak years of his career, and now plays alongside many of the German players to won the World Cup in the summer.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, the 33-year-old midfielder said: “I said recently if Manuel Neuer or another German player won the Ballon d’Or, it would be fair as they won the World Cup.
“But if Ronaldo wins it again, it would also be fair for the season he had, winning the Champions League. He is the best player I have played with.”
He also told the tabloid paper that he had actually intended to stay in Madrid until he heard Pep Guardiola wanted to sign him.
“My idea was to stay in Madrid.Then, when I heard of Munich’s interest I said ‘Xabi, think what you want and where you will be happy. I had been at Madrid for five years. We had won the 10th European Cup, we had been chasing it for a long time and it felt like the business was done.
“It was either a case of continuing for a few more years in Madrid or trying something different. Having experienced La Liga and the Premier League, it was a great chance to come here,” he explained.
