Cristiano Ronaldo To Leave Real Madrid? Misses Carlo Ancelotti, Rafa Benitez ‘Relaxed’ About Portuguese Star’s Future

Cristiano Ronaldo has increased rumors that he might leave Real Madrid, admitting that he misses his former manager at the Bernabeu, Carlo Ancelotti. In fact, Ronaldo didn’t just admit that he missed the Italian manager, he also gave him an affectionate nickname too.

Cristiano Ronaldo made these remarks regarding Carlo Ancelotti, who was sacked in the summer following a disappointing campaign, to Marca, via Bleacher Report.

While talking to the publication, the Portuguese coach compared the popular Italian manager to a “big teddy bear,” before then registering his disappointment that Ancelotti was sacked in the first place.

Speaking about Ancelotti, the former Manchester United and Sporting Lisbon coach declared, “He’s like a big teddy bear, he’s really sensitive and is a great guy. He would speak with us every day, but not just with me, with all of the players. He had great fun with us.”

This then provoked Cristiano Ronaldo to add, “He’s a great person and my only wish is that every player gets the chance to work with him because he’s such a great guy and a fantastic coach.”

Ronaldo didn’t stop there though, even admitting that he would love to work with Ancelotti again in the near future. Ancelotti left Paris Saint Germain to take over Real Madrid at the start of the 2013 season, and in his first season he coached the side to both the Copa Del Rey and the Champions League, the tenth time that the Spanish giants had won the famous trophy.

Because of their success together, Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted that he misses working with Ancelotti before adding that he hopes to do so again in the very near future. “I miss him a lot,” Ancelotti continued. “I want to work with him again, but I’m doing fine now too. I’m working with a new coach and I’m happy now too. But it’s great to have these good memories of him.”

But when he was asked about Cristiano Ronaldo’s future at the Bernabeu, the current Real Madrid manager Rafa Benitez, who took over from Ancelotti in the summer, insisted that everyone at the club, specifically Ronaldo, is extremely happy at the club.

When asked about his relationship with Ronaldo, Benitez declared at a press conference before Madrid’s match with Villarreal, via ESPNFC, “My relationship with the dressing room is very good, even if there are people who say the opposite. Working together closely day in, day out allows the players to appreciate what the coaching staff are doing. We’re getting to know each other and adapting to each other. That time spent together can only be beneficial for the team.”

Benitez then tried to dismiss any notion that Ronaldo is having any kind of problems with both him or the club, declaring, “I’m not going to go into his problems because he has already spoken on the matter. He always performs well for me and he’s back scoring goals now. Now he’s rediscovered his eye for goal I can relax because that will boost his confidence and help him to score even more.”

Despite Benitez’s kind words regarding Cristiano Ronaldo, that didn’t stop Real Madrid falling to another defeat against Villarreal on Sunday where they lost 1-0 because of their ex-player Roberto Soldado’s early first half goal.

[Image via Getty/Alex Caparros]