Al-Nassr coach Stefano Pioli has revealed the significant difference between the personalities of Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Pioli is currently overseeing Ronaldo at Al-Nassr, having previously worked with Ibrahimovic for many years at AC Milan. The relationship between the two remains very strong.
When asked by La Gazzetta dello Sport about the difference between Ronaldo and Ibrahimovic, Pioli responded, “They are two different personalities. Ibrahimovic was impulsive and had a dominant personality. Cristiano, on the other hand, is a global legend.”
He added, “If I arrive at training half an hour early, I find Ronaldo already there 25 minutes before. He is always the first to get on the bus.”
Pioli continued to praise the Portuguese star, saying, “He is a perfectionist who demands a lot from himself and others. He lives for the team, helps, and advises. Sometimes I let him talk to the players. I can’t treat him like the others, but he is intelligent and respects his role and mine.”
He concluded his remarks about Ronaldo by saying, “Ronaldo is a smart person. Right now, he is aiming to score 1,000 goals in his career, and he will achieve it. He is not far from that.”
Regarding his relationship with Ibrahimovic, Pioli said, “He sent me a message when I signed with Al-Nassr, and I congratulated him after his win with Real Madrid. We hugged when we met here in Riyadh. Coaching him was a pleasure, not easy, but that’s part of what made it enjoyable.”
