Al-Nassr boss Luis Castro highlighted the differences between Lionel Messi’s run outside Europe and Cristiano Ronaldo’s in a recent interview.
Messi ended his 19-year run in first-tier European football after leaving Paris Saint-Germain in the summer to join Major League Soccer outfit Inter Miami.
On the other hand, Ronaldo has been part of Al-Nassr’s squad since the beginning of the year after a controversial finish to his Manchester United career.
The pair have excelled in their respective careers throughout the years, sharing 14 Ballon d’Or awards and have continued to do so despite playing in two different continents.
The Argentinian’s side, however, came up short in their quest to secure a spot in the MLS playoffs after losing 1-0 to Cincinnati in their final game of the season.
In a recent interview with SportTV, Luis Castro talked about Ronaldo’s Old Trafford exit and explained how his form was affected during that time.
“I don’t know how anyone can talk about Ronaldo [being a problem at United] like that,” Castro said. “I’m used to the media making up stories.
“It’s difficult for me to put myself in his position. But he’s back to his best now scoring goals and providing assists. I’m not surprised that he’s in good shape and his technique is still untouchable.
“A player’s performance always depends on the team around him. I’m going to bring Messi into the conversation.
“He is second to last in his league but there is a context, and I said it, that for Cristiano to perform at his best we would have to build a strong team around him.
“We can’t have a powerful car and want to drive the car on a road full of potholes,” he added.