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Teenage Ronaldo was punished for overnight gym sessions

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Miguel Angelo, a former teammate of Ronaldo at Sporting’s youth academy, shared some unheard details about Cristiano Ronaldo’s teenage years.

It’s no surprise to hear that young Ronaldo was already determined to become the world’s best footballer. Moreover, that the teenager was obsessed with perfection. However, it’s always fun to hear his former teammates confirm what we already suspect: even with his uncanny talent, it was Ronaldo’s drive and competitive mindset that turned him into one of the best footballers of all time.

Miguel Angelo now plays for Portugal’s third tier, Olimpico do Montijo. The player says his younger teammates constantly ask him to talk about the Bianconero’s first steps in the world of football. The 36-year-old, once an Under-19 European vice-champion, has some amusing stories to tell.

“His mind was different, he was very focused and wanted to be the best at everything. At ping-pong, foosball, snooker. He would spend his nights at the gym and even got punished for it,” Miguel told MaisFutebol.

Diário da Taça: «Joguei com o Cristiano Ronaldo. Agora, estou no Montijo.»https://bit.ly/3qSNCDx

Posted by Maisfutebol on Saturday, December 12, 2020

The Portuguese player, who spent 12 years at Sporting, also spoke about Ronaldo’s kind spirit. Additionally, he clarified why Cristiano was more successful than former Barcelona player Ricardo Quaresma.

“Ronaldo had an obsessive mentality. Quaresma was a genius as well, but he didn’t have the same mental capacity. Cristiano was obsessed with perfection and he’s still the same,” he explained.

“I got along with him and we ran into each other a few years ago. He saw me from far away and immediately gave me a hug. We spoke for a while, maybe another player would have ignored me. I have nothing but nice things to say about Cristiano.”

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