Cristiano Ronaldo tipped to play into 40s by Brazilian Ronaldo

World Cup winner and legendary forward Ronaldo backed his namesake Cristiano Ronaldo to play until he is 40, and also questioned Real Madrid’s decision to sell Achraf Hakimi to Inter, during a recent interview.

Since joining Juventus back in 2018, CR7 has showed no signs of slowing down, netting an impressive 31 Serie A goals last season. He has continued these impressive scoring feats this campaign, scoring 15 times in his opening 13 league games.

He turns 36 in February and his Brazilian namesake has predicted that he will not be retiring any time soon.

Ronaldo Nazario - Soccer PlayerRonaldo Nazario - Soccer Player
Ronaldo spent five years at Inter | Claudio Villa/Getty Images

When asked whether Ronaldo might play into his forties during an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport (via Goal), he said: “I don’t know, for sure he will try.

“He is different from the player I saw at Real Madrid, he knows how to manage himself now. Did you see him against Sassuolo? Even if he stays in the shadows for the whole game, he can hurt in the space of one minute.”

During the interview Ronaldo also discussed Inter’s title chances. Since Antonio Conte took over the Nerazzurri in 2019, there has been significant investment in the squad and the club finished just one point shy of Juventus last season.

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The also find themselves in a title race this campaign with Ronaldo saying: “They have a great coach and a team with a precise identity. In addition to that they don’t play European competitions.

“That’s never a good thing, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Inter earn more points than their opponents in March, when European competitions will resume. They signed an extraordinary player in Hakimi. It was a mistake for Real Madrid to let him go, sometimes I think: ‘Ronnie, imagine you and him. We would go at a decent speed.”

Hakimi has indeed made a quick start to his Inter career, registering 10 Serie A, direct goal involvements after 17 games this season, despite operating as a right wing-back.

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