Former Juventus defender Medhi Benatia hails Cristiano Ronaldo as “the absolute number one” and reveals the breakdown of his relationship with Massimiliano Allegri.
The Moroccan international played alongside Ronaldo for a season when still with the Bianconeri and told Goal.com he believes CR7 to be the best.
“He is the absolute number one, as a footballer and as a person,” Benatia told Goal of Ronaldo.
“He is very intelligent, even off the pitch. His brain is always faster than anybody else. I am happy to be his friend. I always wish him the best.”
Benatia left in January 2019 to join Qatari outfit Al-Duhail after reports of a falling out with then coach Max Allegri.
“Allegri is a great coach and a great person. I had no problem with him or anyone else. But he made promises to me that he didn’t keep.
“In pre-season in the States, the coach told me that I was going to start with [Giorgio] Chiellini. And that [Leonardo] Bonucci would have to earn his place. Leo is a champion, but it was expected that I would start and, perhaps, at the first mistake someone else could have played in my place.
“At that moment things were going pretty well for me. I scored two goals in the Italian Cup final and we were talking about a contract renewal. After that, I found myself making four bench appearances without playing even a minute.
“Then, apparently, Allegri had made fun of me. I started to lose my mind and I told him that I would never play for Juve again while he was the coach.
“But with the club I have an extraordinary relationship, we are still in touch and I’m happy to have been able to work with these people, because it’s the best you can aspire to.
“I don’t have time to think about regrets, I don’t like looking back. I don’t like to say ‘I should have done this or that’. I’m happy, that’s okay. It could have been much worse. So, no regrets for my life.”
