Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has hailed Cristiano Ronaldo as the best player in the world and rubbished reports the Portuguese is considering a return to Manchester United.
Ronaldo is in a rich vein of form having fired consecutive hat-tricks, netting a triple in last weekend’s win at Deportivo La Coruna and then going one better against Elche in midweek.
His four-goal showing at the Bernabeu on Tuesday night led Elche boss Fran Escriba to liken him to NBA legend Michael Jordan, and Madrid manager Ancelotti was in agreement.
“I had that experience when I was at AC Milan and he was at Manchester United,” said the Italian.
“Right now, Cristiano is the best player in the world, without question, and marking him isn’t easy. We’re lucky that he plays for us. He has great character, he’s a professional and a leader.
“We have to do everything we can to keep Cristiano in this physical and mental condition.”
Reports – largely originating in the British media – claim Ronaldo is unhappy at the Bernabeu after six years at the club and keen on a move back to Old Trafford.
Ronaldo is under contract until 2018 but the belief is that with the Portuguese turning 30 in February his value will soon drop and Madrid could look to cash in when he is at his highest possible price.
But Ancelotti said: “It is nonsense. He is happy here, he is motivated and we are all delighted with him. I can’t imagine a Madrid without Ronaldo. These reports make no sense.”
Madrid’s two other Portuguese internationals, Fabio Coentrao and Pepe, will both be missing through injury for today’s trip to Villarreal, and Ancelotti is expecting a tough test against a team which finished sixth last season and has made a similarly strong start this term.
“They are a good team, a quick-moving side who are well-organised and we struggled against them last season,” he said.
“It will be a difficult game and it’s vital that we start with intensity and aggression.”
Despite his team’s fine start to the campaign, which has seen them collect eight points from five games and suffer just one defeat – a narrow 1-0 home loss to Barcelona – Villarreal manager Marcelino claims to be heading into the encounter with low expectations.
“Madrid have everything and beating them would be a big surprise,” he said.
“They are physically tremendous, attack well, counter-attack well and they have precision and speed.”
