Ronaldo has often been criticized for his abundance
of self-confidence but his countryman says he is not cocky, and insists he always
helps his team-mates.
Ricardo Quaresma insists his Portugal team-mate Cristiano
Ronaldo is misunderstood and is not as arrogant as perceived.
They played together at Sporting in the early 2000's
before Ronaldo's move to Manchester United, and have teamed up regularly for
the national side.
Cristiano Ronaldo has unquestionably earned a
place among the pantheon of the greatest players in history, but his on-field
demeanour and sometimes seemingly selfish attitude have drawn criticism in the
past.
Quaresma, who tasted Euro 2016 glory alongside
Ronaldo in France earlier this month, condemned the notion that his
team-mate is conceited.
"Ronaldo is a person who likes to play. He's not
as arrogant as people paint," said Quaresma.
"And he is a great captain. A person who's always
ready to help our colleagues.
"I have admired him since we started playing at
Sporting, because already as kids he showed his strength.
"Sometimes I played with him and [it was] said:
'you're small, you're skinny, you won't be able to get there'.
"And Cristiano was going into the bathrooms to fill
buckets and do weights with buckets. He is a person who never let himself go
down for anything or anyone."
On the knee injury that cut short Ronaldo's participation
in the Euro 2016 final against France, Quaresma said: "What are we
thinking? You are missing your leader. He is our leader.
"But the truth is that we gave a good answer and he
did not fail to support his colleagues.
"In pain or no pain, and at the time he was in so
much pain, he was jumping and pushing everyone so that his colleagues
heard."
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