Pep Guardiola’s Previous Comments on Cristiano Ronaldo Resurface Ahead of Manchester Derby

• Cristiano Ronaldo has in the past gotten praise from unfamiliar quarters after Pep Guardiola hailed the Manchester United striker
• Guardiola is a known fan of Lionel Messi, Ronaldo's main rival, having worked with him at Barcelona
• Guardiola will face Ronaldo on Sunday when his City side welcomes Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium for the season's first Manchester derby

Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola has previously lavished praise on Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ahead of the first Manchester derby of the season, with the two sides to lock horns on Sunday at the Etihad Stadium, Guardiola's previous comments on Ronaldo have resurfaced.

Ronaldo is currently under fire after putting in a lethargic show against Spain in the UEFA Nations League. He has been dropped by Erik ten Hag this season from league matches.

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However, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial are in a race against time to be fit for the Sunday duel, leaving ten Hag with no option but to start Ronaldo.

Guardiola had praised the veteran last year, placing him in the same category as Lionel Messi, as the Mirror reports.

"He’s been one of the greatest in the last 15 years, alongside Lionel Messi. What these two guys have done, we’re not going to see again. As a finisher he’s exceptional; I’m not going to disguise, it was a joy to watch him these years.”

Manchester City have in the past attempted to sign Ronaldo, before United swooped in and resigned him. The Premier League champions eventually got their striker in Erling Haaland, who is now enjoying a stellar start in the Premier League.

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Sports Brief had earlier reported that Dolores Aveiro, Cristiano Ronaldo’s mother, says it would be a dream come true if her son ended up sharing a football pitch with her grandson Cristianinho in the near future.

Cristianinho is currently only 12 but is already showing loads of promise as a rising football star.

He joined the Manchester United academy when Ronaldo made the sensational switch back to England from Juventus in 2021, and has been growing as a football player since.