Cristiano Ronaldo still believes he is capable of playing in the Champions League (Picture: Getty)
Gabby Agbonlahor has slammed fans and pundits for criticising Cristiano Ronaldo and feels the 37-year-old has ‘still got something to give’.
Ronaldo was welcomed back to Real Madrid four years after leaving the club this week, with the Portugal hero invited to train in the Spanish capital.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner was last seen heading down the tunnel at the Al Thumama Stadium in floods of tears following Portugal’s shock World Cup quarter-final exit at the hands of Morocco.
Ronaldo is now in the process of looking for a new club, with his contract at Manchester United having been terminated following an explosive interview with Piers Morgan last month.
There were reports that Ronaldo had agreed a two-and-a-half-year contract worth an eye-watering £432m to join Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr, though that move does not appear to be close just yet.
Ronaldo still believes he is capable of playing for a Champions League-calibre club despite his advancing years and mixed form for club and country.
He has faced plenty of criticism in recent months but Agbonlahor has issued a defence of Ronaldo as he continues to search for a new team.
Cristiano Ronaldo is maintaining his fitness as he hunts for a new team (Picture: Getty)
Quizzed on if Ronaldo’s reputation in football had taken a hit, Agbonlahor told talkSPORT: ‘I don’t think so, no.
‘I think people will be disappointed with Ronaldo for Manchester United and Portugal, but what he’s done in the game, it shouldn’t tarnish it.
‘I think he’s still got something to give. He’s training at Real Madrid at the moment, he’s got the offer from Saudi Arabia, but I think people are quick to try and put Ronaldo down and people forget what he’s done in the game.
‘Everyone is talking about, ‘Who’s the GOAT?’, does it matter? Ronaldo is one of the greatest players to ever play the game.’
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‘He’s training at Real Madrid at the moment…’
