Cristiano Ronaldo slams United youngsters single out Martinez, Dalot and Casemiro out for praise.
Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo has slammed the youngsters at the club for not having the hunger for success.
The Portuguese star who is away on international duty with Portugal ahead of the World Cup had a controversial interview with Piers Morgan recently.
The first part of the interview, Ronaldo claims not to have respect for the new United manager Erik Ten Hag and also claims not to know Ralf Rangnick before his appointment at Manchester United.
In the Interview the former Juventus player said: “They [the young players] live in a different era. My kid is 12-years-old, the mentality is not the same. The anger [is the difference], they have things more easily. They don’t suffer. And they don’t care. I don’t mean only a few at Manchester United, I mean in all teams.
“The new generation and the new technologies, they distract them. But they are not the same [in the way] that they listen but this is why we have two ears, as you listen from one side and they go away from another side.
“So, it doesn’t surprise me. But in the same way, it’s a little bit [of a] shame because if they have the best examples in front of eyes, and if they don’t, at least copy what [they] did.
“For me, it’s kind of weird, because I remember when I was 18, 19, 20, I always looked to see the best players: [Ruud] Van Nistelrooy, [Rio] Ferdinand, Roy Keane, and [Ryan] Giggs – this is why I have the success that I have and longevity. Because I take care of my body, my mentality, my head, because I see these guys and I learn from them.
“I’m not the kind of guy who likes to give advice as I prefer to be an example. Because I’m an example. I’m there every morning and do the same stuff. I’m probably the first one to arrive and the last one to go out. I think the details speak for itself. As I told you before, they listen to one thing and in two minutes they have already forgotten and do what they think is better. This is why I say, I like to lead by example and some ones they follow me – but not much.
Asked whether they are interested in listening to his advice, Ronaldo replied: “They don’t care – some, yes, but most of them, no. But for me that is not surprising because they are not going to have longevity in their careers. It is impossible. In my generation you see many players reach 36, 37, 38 at a high level and I think this generation you will count on one hand how many will reach that level.
Asked which players he admires in the modern day, he responded: “I only can say what I see from my eyes. In Manchester United, I can mention Dalot. An example he is young and very professional. I have no doubt he will have longevity in football. He’s young, smart, intelligent and he’s very professional.
“We have a few young ones more, but it’s difficult. Probably Martinez, Casemiro is in his 30s – but I’d say Dalot.”
