Benatia labels Ronaldo not normal for inviting him to gym at 11 pm
Ex Juventus defender Medhi Benatia has said Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo is “not normal” after the Portuguese star invited him to the gym at 11 pm after a match.
The comments from Moroccan defender Benatia, 32, came during an interview with French-Monegasque radio station Radio Monte Carlo (RMC) Sport.
Benatia, who played for Juventus between 2016 and 2019, shared a changing room with Ronaldo, 34, at the Italian club for part of the 2018/2019 season and shared a story about the forward after a match.
Benatia said: “It was a match against Bergamo and we were both substitutes because we were playing another match in three days and the manager did rotations.
“While we were on the bus on our way back to Turin, Ronaldo texted me ‘What are you going to do right now?’ to which I responded ‘It is 11 at night, I am going home, why?’ I asked.”
Benatia went on to say Ronaldo’s answer was: “You want to have a gym session? I did not sweat today, I need it.
“Want to come with me?”
Apparently far from being convinced, Benatia answered: “I just want to go home and sit in front of the TV.”
The ex Bayern Munich centre-back went on to say after the squad arrived in Turin “we all got dressed in our street clothes, he (Ronaldo) put on sportswear, got his music and went to the gym.
“That is when I thought, this guy is not normal. When you see it up close like I was lucky enough to, you respect him even more than before. He has sacrificed everything for football.”
Benatia was bought by top-flight Qatari club Al-Duhail in January of this year and was crowned a Serie A champion with Juventus in the 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 seasons.
Read Also: Ronaldo rejects captain armband in 3-1 victory against Udinese
Benatia was bought by top-flight Qatari club Al-Duhail in January of this year and was crowned a Serie A champion with Juventus in the 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 seasons.