The former Paris Saint-Germain coach has hailed the Portugal international’s professionalism and his importance to the team
Carlo Ancelotti has insisted that Cristiano Ronaldo is Real Madrid’s undisputed star player following the Portuguese’s double against Chelsea in the International Champions Cup.
Los Blancos won the match 3-1 in the Sun Life stadium in Miami, as preparations for the new Liga season ahead begin to accelerate, with the opener against Betis on August 18.
The Portugal international has netted an impressive 146 goals in Spain’s top flight since joining the Santiago Bernabeu side from Manchester United in 2009, and Ancelotti has stressed that the 28-year-old is the kind of player who makes life easy for a coach.
“Ronaldo is the man for Real Madrid. He is very important to us,” Ancelotti was quoted as saying on the club’s official website.
“I think that if Ronaldo performs, the coach’s job is easier.
“He scores lots of goals, is very important and I am happy to be coaching him. He is professional, focused and very motivated.”
Ronaldo is on the verge of signing a contract extension with Real Madrid until the summer of 2018, with his current deal due to expire in two years’ time.
The new deal worth €17 million per season will make him the best-paid player in La Liga, earning €1m per annum more than Barcelona attacker Lionel Messi.