Former Chelsea and Arsenal star Ashley Cole has praised Manchester United legend Cristiano Ronaldo after opening up on their heated battles in the Premier League.
Cristiano Ronaldo first arrived at Old Trafford in 2003 after legendary former manager Sir Alex Ferguson signed him from Sporting CP for a £12.2m fee.
The 39-year-old Portuguese forward thrived in his first spell at United and made a sensational impact under the tutelage of Red Devils legend Sir Alex Ferguson.
During his initial spell at Old Trafford, Ronaldo lifted three Premier League titles, a Champions League, an FA Cup and two League Cups with United.
The United legend, who left Old Trafford and signed for Real Madrid in 2009, lifted the first of his five Ballon d’Or awards in 2008 ahead of Barcelona icon Lionel Messi.
Ronaldo shot to superstardom at the Red Devils, with Ferguson admitting that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner was one of the four world-class players he managed.
The Portugal captain carried on adding to his legacy in the Spanish capital after Los Blancos snapped him up for £80m – a world-record fee at the time – from United.
Cole on ‘mighty battles’ with Man Utd legend Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo, who currently plays for Al Nassr, was known for his fancy showboating and skills in the early part of his Manchester United career.
The Portugal international famously clashed with Chelsea legend Ashley Cole in the Premier League and had a tough time playing against the former Gunners star.
Ronaldo previously named Cole as his toughest opponent of all time, with the former United superstar calling him a “tenacious player” when he was at “his peak.”
Cole, who was announced as the first inductee of the Premier League Hall of Fame class of 2024 on Monday, admitted that Ronaldo was “willing to learn and adapt.”
Speaking on Al Nassr star Ronaldo, Cole said: “Over the years, Cristiano Ronaldo and I had some mighty battles and we have a mutual respect for each other.
“He came to the Premier League as a little bit of an unknown, but he soon understood what it took to be a top player.
“He was willing to learn and adapt. He wanted to be the best player in the world and became a machine.”
Cole talks playing against ‘nightmare’ Ronaldo
Cole admitted that Ronaldo could be a nightmare to play against and spotlighted the United and Madrid legend’s best attributes on the pitch.
“He had everything. He could dribble, he could sprint behind, he could leap and jump and head a ball, he could go inside, he could go outside,” he continued, as per Goal.
“So, I say he always gave me nightmares, but you try to work each other out and we got the best of each other at times.
“Whenever I hear his name or see his face, I always think of when he made me do the splits [in 2003-04, Ronaldo’s first Premier League season].”