Sports
Cristiano Ronaldo: What I Discussed With Anthony Joshua Last Summer
Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed his love for combat sports in a fascinating interview. The Juventus forward is renowned for his tiptop physique; one which has been shaped by activities like boxing.
The former Real Madrid superstar was the focus of a documentary from DAZN called ‘Parallel Worlds’ where he chats to boxer Gennady Golovkin.
“Playing football is my passion, but I prefer watching other sports on TV,” Ronaldo said during the documentary. “Between watching a football match or a boxing or UFC fight, I choose boxing or UFC.
“The best athletes are those that anticipate what is going to happen; that’s it’s like in a ring,” Golovkin added. “But it’s also the reason why, in matches, they clearly go after Cristiano, to take him out of the game.”
Ronaldo’s respect for combat sports, and boxing in particular, appears to have begun during his time at Old Trafford.
“When I was at Manchester United, a coach boxed with me,” Ronaldo continued. “I think practicing boxing is useful for football because it sharpens your senses and you learn to move.”
As part of the documentary, Ronaldo looked back over his development and how he became a professional footballer.
“I was born on the island of Madeira and, when I was 11, Sporting CP went to speak to my parents,” Ronaldo said. “They told them that they were interested in me, but that I’d have to leave to live in Lisbon.
“Leaving my family is the most difficult thing I’ve done in my life. My toughest moments were when I moved to Lisbon and when I lost my father.
“I think it’s good to have emotions. I don’t hide who I am. People say men don’t cry but, who said men don’t cry? We all have feelings and emotions and we have to express them.”
At the age of 35, Ronaldo is making a big effort to try to keep himself in top shape going into the latter stages of his career.
“Last summer, I had a chat with Anthony Joshua,” Ronaldo revealed. “At 33 you start to think your legs are going. I want to stay in sport, in football. People will look at me and say: ‘Cristiano was an incredible player but now he’s slow’. I don’t want that.
“You can change a lot about your body, but the problem isn’t that. It’s depends on your mindset, your motivation and your experience, which I think is the most complex thing.
“In sport, you can gain maturity. Look at [Roger] Federer in tennis; he’s 37 or 38 years old and he’s still at his peak, and there are some in boxing too.”
Ronaldo also took a moment to reflect on his career as a whole.
“I made sacrifices to be the best in the world, but the most important thing for me is being a good person,” he said.
Former Chelsea manager Frank Lampard is again being linked to the vacant Crystal Palace job.
The London club were expected to secure former Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo.
However, talks collapsed, which means they are looking for another candidate.
The Daily Mirror reports Palace have moved onto Lampard, Swansea boss Steve Cooper and Burnley manager Sean Dyche as possible targets after pulling the plug on the Nuno deal.
Lampard’s interest in the Palace job is unknown, but he had recently stated that he was ready to get back to work after his sacking by Chelsea in January.
According to Italian journalist Guillaume Maillard-Pacini, Paris-Saint Germain have hijacked yet another Barcelona transfer target.
A few days ago, the Paris-based club stole away Georginio Wijnaldum from the Blaugranas by offering him wages worth more than double which Joan Laporta and co were ready to offer.
Now, Les Parisiens are about to do the same with former AC Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Touted to become one of the world’s best goalkeepers, Donnarumma is at the end of his contract in Milan. Moving away as a free agent, the goalkeeper is on the radar of several top-tier clubs across Europe. His agent, Mino Raiola, is attempting to find the Italian national the right club where he can continue to grow and develop as a player.
Barça had made contact with Raiola regarding his transfer; the high-profile agent had offered his player to the club himself. However, this transfer has not been one of the Catalan club’s main priorities over the summer, and it is likely they will continue to bet on the relatively underperforming Marc-Andres ter Stegen, who will surely bounce back into form soon.
Therefore, the conditions have been set for PSG to hijack yet another transfer target from Camp Nou. Donnarumma, whose transfer to Barça was becoming more and more likely, will now probably be pried away to Paris — a club that have the financial resources to offer him a much better contract.
It is likely that the 22-year-old’s agent will also get his notoriously large commission on this deal as well, with reports claiming he will be asking anything up to €20m, as Donnarumma will be joining PSG as a free agent, giving more leeway for a higher agent-fee. Barcelona, in any case, would have probably not been able to afford such a fee.
Bayern Munich are ready to make a bid for Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi.
Bayern chief Hasan Salihamidzic tried to bring the England international to Munich two years ago and has remained a fan.
With Hudson-Odoi finding himself on the outer of Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel’s plans, Salihamidzic spies his chance and is ready to make a new push for the winger.
Sport1’s Constantin Eckner reports today: “The Sancho transfer saga goes on. But how about another one? Bayern Munich actually consider bidding for Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi once again.”
Along with Bayern, Jadon Sancho’s Borussia Dortmund are also being linked with Hudson-Odoi this summer.
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