The ex-Brazil star admits the Real Madrid
talisman is a "very complete player" but
feels his former Barcelona team-mate is the
better of the two
Ronaldinho has praised
Cristiano Ronaldo,
saying he is a "complete"
player, but says "magic"
Lionel Messi is better.
The Barcelona star and Real Madrid talisman
have both been named in the final three for
the 2014 Ballon d'Or alongside Bayern
Munich and Germany goalkeeper Manuel
Neuer.
And Messi's former Barca team-mate insists
that the Argentina captain is the better of La
Liga's superstars.
"We players asked [then Barca coach] Frank
Rijkaard to bring Messi into the first team’s
training sessions," he told El Enganche.
"Cristiano Ronaldo is a very complete player,
but Messi is better because he has magic."
The former Brazil star revealed that he
almost joined Manchester United, but it was
former president Sandro Rosell who
convinced him to join the Camp Nou side.
"Everything was beautiful and happened fast.
A great friend of mine was about to become a
part of the Barcelona board: Sandro Rosell.
"Before the offers came, he had asked me if I
would play in Barcelona when they won the
election and became the presidents, and I had
said 'Yes'.
"I was almost on my way to Manchester United
and only the details needed to be put onto
that deal. But in the last minute Rosell
called me to tell me they would win the
election. That made everything happen fast.
"I wanted to play in Barcelona. When I signed,
I didn’t feel pressure, I felt joy. I had the
chance that all of the players wanted, to play
in a great club like Barcelona.
"I had the opportunity to follow in the
footsteps of my idols. I was proud to play
where Romario, Ronaldo and Rivaldo had
played and I had the chance to be Barcelona’s
new 'R'. I loved that."