Ronaldo mentions his favourite stadium and it's neither Santiago Bernabéu nor Old Trafford

• Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed that Camp Nou, not the Santiago Bernabéu, was his favourite stadium to play in
• The five-time Ballon d’Or winner last played at the stadium in the 2020-21 Champions League with Juventus
• Ronaldo also suggested that Kylian Mbappé is struggling as a centre-forward at Real Madrid and claimed he could teach him how to adapt to the position

Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo has never been one to shy away from public interviews, and this latest one is no different, he made yet another revelation that has caught football fans around the world by surprise. 

Despite spending nine glorious years at Real Madrid, where he became the club’s all-time top scorer and lifted four Champions League titles, the Portuguese superstar admitted that his favourite stadium to play in was none other than Barcelona’s Camp Nou.

Speaking to journalist Edu Aguirre, Ronaldo revealed that he relished the hostile reception he received from Barcelona fans, 

“I loved playing in the Camp Nou. They booed me, they insulted me, and I loved it,” he stated. 

His long-standing rivalry with Lionel Messi made every El Clásico a heated one, and he thrived in the electric atmosphere that came with it.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner had an impressive record at the stadium, scoring 15 goals there across his career. In total, he found the net 20 times in 34 games against Barcelona, proving to be one of their fiercest adversaries. 

Even outside of his Real Madrid days, Ronaldo returned to Camp Nou as a Manchester United and Juventus player, continuing to haunt the Catalan giants. His final appearance at the venue came during the 2020-21 Champions League campaign with Juventus.

Beyond his reflections on Camp Nou, Ronaldo also made an unexpected admission regarding a potential move to Barcelona early in his career. He disclosed that before joining Manchester United in 2003, he had discussions with someone at the Catalan club who was keen on bringing him in,

“I could have played for Barcelona. I was in discussions with someone at the club who wanted to sign me, but it didn’t materialise. They aimed to bring me on the following year, but Manchester United secured my signature at that moment,” he revealed.

Had the move gone through, it could have rewritten football history, placing Ronaldo and Messi on the same side rather than as eternal rivals. 

Instead, he went on to become one of Real Madrid’s greatest-ever players, building his legacy in the Spanish capital rather than in Catalonia.

Ronaldo’s take on Mbappé’s role at Real Madrid

Another notable moment from the interview was Ronaldo’s insight into Kylian Mbappé’s adaptation at Real Madrid. The Portuguese icon suggested that the French forward was struggling to play as a traditional centre-forward and that he would be willing to teach him the role,

“It’s a bit tricky for Mbappé as he doesn’t know how to play as a centre forward. I would teach him to play as a ‘9.’ He needs to adapt to what I used to do,” Ronaldo stated.

Given his own transformation from a tricky winger to a lethal No. 9, Ronaldo’s advice might be invaluable to Mbappé as he looks to establish himself in Madrid.

As he nears his 40th birthday, Ronaldo continues to make waves in the Saudi Pro League with Al Nassr. While the level of competition may not match that of Europe’s elite leagues, the iconic forward has proven that he still possesses the goal-scoring prowess that made him a global superstar. 

Ronaldo to Europe? Mourinho plans to bring back Cristiano to stop Osimhen’s dominance in Turkey

Previously, TheRadar reported that Cristiano Ronaldo, one of football’s most celebrated icons, is reportedly being courted by José Mourinho for a news breaking reunion at Fenerbahçe.

According to Turkish outlet Fotomac, Mourinho, who currently manages the Turkish giants, has been in contact with Ronaldo to weigh the possibility of bringing the five-time Ballon d’Or winner back to European football.