"I have never seen another player like him" - Sadio Mane opens up on experience of playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr

Al-Nassr forward Sadio Mane has heaped praise on teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, hailing the Portuguese superstar as a unique footballer with an unmatched mentality.

Speaking to Rio Ferdinand, Mane said that Ronaldo is an example for all footballers and they should follow his professionalism. He added that the former Manchester United superstar pushes everyone to get better:

"He is an example for every kind of football player in the world, I have never seen another player like him, that's for sure."

The former Liverpool man said he had heard a lot about Ronaldo's desire and hard work in training before they became teammates, and that the Portuguese forward lived up to how he was portrayed:

"Before I knew him personally, I used to watch him on TV and read about him in the news, about his professionalism, mentality, and remarkable seriousness. And when I came here and met him, I found exactly the same thing. He's unbelievable, he works hard every single day and still has the desire to win and to give his best, even at the age of 40. You can see that he is a complete athlete in every sense of the word."

Ferdinand asked Mane if Ronaldo still arrives first in training and leaves last. The Al-Nassr star replied:

"It's a little different, but he's still on the right path, training is something that runs in his blood. He always comes early, of course, and he leaves like everyone else in a normal way, but his impact on the team is exceptional."

Sadio Mane and Cristiano Ronaldo have played 91 matches together at Al-Nassr. The duo are yet to win any major silverware in the Saudi Pro League, but have combined for 16 goals, with 13 of them scored by the Portuguese superstar.

Cristiano Ronaldo is a role model for all players, says Sadio Mane

Former Liverpool star Sadio Mane has named Cristiano Ronaldo as the ideal role model for all footballers. He believes that Ronaldo's passion at the age of 40 is exceptional:

"Cristiano is a role model for every football player in the world. This is Cristiano, with his mentality, his passion for winning, and his high level of professionalism. I have never seen a player like him before."

Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in 2022, with Sadio Mane moving to the Saudi Pro League club in 2023, after one season at Bayern Munich.