ONE of Cristiano Ronaldo’s former Sporting Lisbon team-mates says the Manchester United star NEVER caught the eye as a kid.

But after dominating the beautiful game for nearly two decades, Ronaldo is now one of football’s GOATs.

Sporting’s ex-Brazil ace Rodrigo Fabri told UOL that Ronaldo did not give the impression of going on to greater things when he was in his teens.

Ronnie was 15 years old when he trained with Sporting’s seniors in 2001.

And Fabri admits the forward did nothing to catch the eye of team-mates.

However, the fact Ronaldo is continuing to make headlines at 36 with yet another club, this time a second stint at Manchester United, proves he is up there with the very best in history.

Fabri said: “When I was at Sporting we did some training with the youths and Ronaldo trained with us.

“He was very young, he showed quality but honestly he didn’t catch my attention to the point of saying ‘this kid will be the best in the world’.

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“When you see Messi or Neymar and you realise their quality is absurd, they don’t need to by physically 100 per cent fit to be able to exercise their profession with greatness.

“Cristiano doesn’t. Despite his refined technique, he also. needs to be in top physical condition and never lets this aspect of his game fall.

“That’s why he deserves to be considered one of the greatest.

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“If we continue to compare, a Ronaldinho, who was a magician, with Ronaldo’s professionalism, how far could he have gone?

“He would have gone further. surely. I’m Ronaldinho’s No1 fan but this is a reality. 

“If he had committed himself like Cristiano, he would be unanimously considered one of the second best in history, because I don’t make comparisons with Pele.”

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