Ronaldo Gives Cold Reply About Ex Teammate's Return to Benfica

• Cristiano Ronaldo has declined to speak about Angel Di Maria's return to Benfica
• The Argentine made a return to the Portuguese giants after rejecting other offers
• Ronaldo and Di Maria were teammates at Real Madrid between 2010 and 2014

Cristiano Ronaldo gave a somewhat frosty response when quizzed about Angel Di Maria's return to Benfica, after spending a lone season with Juventus.

Di Maria, who played a significant role in Argentina's World Cup-winning campaign in Qatar, was rumoured to be joining the growing list of high-profile players heading to Saudi Arabia.

However, the former Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United forward chose to return to Portugal, signing with his former club, Benfica. Di Maria played for the club between 2007 and 2010.

As a former teammate at Real Madrid, Ronaldo curiously declined to express his thoughts on the matter, perhaps due to the storied rivalry between his boyhood club, Sporting Lisbon, and the Eagles.

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“If you ask me about Sporting, I will answer you, but I will not comment on other clubs,” the 38-year-old Al-Nassr superstar said bluntly, as quoted by TCR.

Di Maria: Messi is GOAT

Ronaldo's impassive reaction could have been influenced by Di Maria's inclination towards Lionel Messi in the ongoing football GOAT debate.

The Argentine expressed his admiration for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Neymar Junior, Wayne Rooney, and Ronaldo, but stated his compatriot was the greatest among them.

"Leo is the best of the four; Cristiano is a monster, and Neymar is simply a joy for football. He's Brazilian, and when he plays, all he does is have fun," Di Maria said, as quoted by Daily Star.

"With all the great players I have played with, it's hard to choose. But if I had to pick one, it would be Leo."

Di Maria makes Benfica return

Sports Brief also reported on Di Maria rejoining Benfica for a second spell after quitting Juventus, as announced by the Portuguese giants in early July.

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The 35-year-old World Cup winner left the Old Lady as a free agent last month amid claims he could be targeted by a club in Saudi Arabia's top flight.

However, Di Maria, who spent seven years with Paris Saint-Germain before his solitary season at Juventus, bucked the trend by signing for Benfica.