"He’s a perfectionist who demands a lot" - Al Nassr manager comments on Cristiano Ronaldo and predicts if the forward will score 1000 goals

Al Nassr manager Stefano Pioli has hailed superstar Cristiano Ronaldo for his top-class attitude on and off the pitch. The Italian manager has labeled the five-time Ballon d'Or winner as a 'perfectionist' who does not only look after himself but also his teammates.

Piolo has admitted that he cannot treat Cristiano Ronaldo the way he treats other players but the superstar has nothing but respect for the manager. He also insisted that the Portuguese superstar is always the first player to come to training even after achieving almost everything in his illustrious career. The former Inter Milan and AC Milan manager told Gazzetta dello Sport, as quoted by Goal:

"If I arrive half an hour early, he’s there 25 minutes early. He’s always the first to get on the bus. He’s a perfectionist who demands a lot from himself and from others. He lives for the team, he helps, he advises. Sometimes I let him talk to the players. I can’t treat him like the others, but he’s intelligent and he respects his role and mine."

Pioli also opened up on the comparison between Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, another superstar he managed in the past. He also backed the former Real Madrid and Manchester United superstar to become the first player to score 1000 goals throughout his career. The Italian added:

"They are different characters. Ibra was impetuous and had a dominant personality. Cristiano is a legend, he’s global, enormous. He has a thousand official goals in the back of his mind. He will score them, he’s not far off."

Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 916 official goals for club and country till date in 1255 appearances. He has been a consistent goalscorer throughout his glittering career having played for clubs like Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Al Nassr.

Even at the age of 39, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to score for fun and has been the best player in Saudi Arabia since moving to Al Nassr in January 2023. He has scored 74 goals and provided 18 assists in 83 appearances for the Riyadh-based club till date.

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Three options considered by Cristiano Ronaldo as he faces an uncertain future at Al Nassr: Reports

Al Nassr superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly considering his options as he approaches the final six months of his mega-money deal at Al-Awwal Park. The 39-year-old is reportedly yet to be offered a new deal by Al-Alami despite him being the face of the club.

As reported by TEAMTalk, Ronaldo has three options in his mind regarding his future. The Portuguese superstar could potentially hang up his boots if he manages to lead Al Nassr to their first ever AFC Champions League success.

Meanwhile, a contract extension is likely to be the most likely option, with both parties unlikely to end the association. The five-time Ballon d'Or is always hungry for more trophies and individual accolades.

Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly only plans to retire after the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico. Another option for Ronaldo is to return to his native Portugal and retire in his homeland.