My thoughts on my 202324 season and the truth about my future. Talk with my friend Rio (PART 1)
Category
🥇
SportTranscription
00:00When are you going to invite me, man?
00:06I'm never going to shy away, never, never.
00:09And I will try to score, if I don't score, next game, I will try to score.
00:16I wanted to reach 1,000 goals in a fucking hour, how are you going to beat that?
00:24So Chris, man, we're in this wicked studio, I love it, man, and you know what we're going
00:27to do?
00:28We've got a few things here, and I think every time we're going to change topic…
00:30They're called buzz, no?
00:31They're buzz bars, yeah.
00:32I'll just bang it.
00:33Or you bang it, when you want to change it.
00:35You can start.
00:36Right, let's start then, man.
00:39Right, Al Nassar, Saudi, going there, huge news, like you changed everything when you
00:45went there.
00:46What were the most difficult things for you to adapt to when you went to Saudi, coming
00:50from Europe?
00:51Rio, as you know, my whole life, it's about challenge.
00:56I left my house at 11 years old to live in a big city, so for me, it's easy, because
01:02I changed Madeira to Lisbon, Lisbon to England, England to Italy, Italy, I'm back in Spain.
01:12For me, it's not a problem, for me, it's part of my life, I'm used to have this kind
01:17of life, and to be honest, it was very easy for me.
01:23I can't speak about religion, or about the weather, but no country is perfect, so for
01:30me, the adaptation was easy, and I really love it to be there, to be honest.
01:36It's interesting what you said about no country is perfect, that's exactly what I was thinking
01:40when I saw you go, and I saw the news start coming out about Saudi, and I saw a lot of
01:45the Western world pointing the finger, saying negative stuff, and I'm like, are we that
01:50good?
01:51Are we that perfect?
01:53Everyone has problems, man, but it's about facing the problems, and then making a step
01:57forward, and is there any little things that you've thought, wow, I didn't expect that
02:02to be there when you went there, or that have been good, positive, as well, or negative?
02:06As I told you before, for me, all the countries have their issues, it's normal, there they
02:14have fantastic things, to be honest, I'm really happy to be there, me and my family.
02:17I saw you on the beach.
02:20Yes, for example, the Red Sea, which is my second house, or the first house, because
02:27it's a place that's unbelievable, it's like a diamond there, I love to be there.
02:33When are you going to invite me, man?
02:34What's going on?
02:35I need to know my family.
02:36We speak about that, you will love it, you and your family, trust me, it's one of the
02:40most beautiful places I've ever been, yes, yes, and not only that part there, for example,
02:45Alula, which is in some place in the desert.
02:49Have you been there?
02:50Yes, of course.
02:51It's an amazing place.
02:52Ah, you've been in Alula?
02:53Yeah, when I went there, my friend started crying.
02:54It's beautiful.
02:55We went into the hotel, and I looked around, and my friend was like…
02:59Yeah, yeah, you know why?
03:01Because it's sacred, how do you say sacred?
03:06Spiritual.
03:07Yeah, spiritual, it's spiritual, you can feel the energy there, that they have some
03:13spiritual thing.
03:14Different, isn't it?
03:15I felt as well, to be honest.
03:16Yeah, I did.
03:17They have the Red Sea, they have even in the mountains, they have snow, that people snow
03:22in Saudi, yes, they have snow, they have everything, so it's a lovely country, I love to be there,
03:28my family love to be there, and as I told you, the adaptation for me wasn't too difficult,
03:36and I'm happy there.
03:37What are the differences between the leagues, because everyone says, ah, the league's not
03:40any good, well, you played there, you know, what's the difference?
03:43All the leagues, they are different.
03:46In my opinion, it's the people speak more than they really know.
03:52All the leagues, in my opinion, they have issues, but the league, I tell you, 100%,
04:00and you can, when you're going to do interview to another players who play there, they will
04:05tell you, it's not easy, it's not easy, it's very difficult, plus the weather, which is
04:11very hot, and you know, when it's hot, it's more difficult to maintain the level of the
04:18game, but in my opinion, the league is very, very good, and they still grow and grow and
04:24improve, and I'm happy, because I was the pioneer of the country in football, so I'm
04:32glad for that.
04:33Yeah, a bit like Bex in America with the MLS, what he's doing over there, and what he's
04:38done has been magic, and what you're doing here, even to my mind, you've created a whole
04:44movement of people coming, how much pressure did you feel being the first real big star
04:51to come out and say to everybody, come on, follow me?
04:53Was that big pressure for you?
04:54Really, you know, as I was young, you know, I had a different personality, I believe in
05:03myself, in other, not only football, but in other areas as well, to be honest, it was
05:10zero pressure, I didn't have any pressure, so when I moved there, I didn't feel pressure,
05:17for me, pressure…
05:18Everyone going crazy, crazy, crazy…
05:19You know, for me, the pressure, it's the people who was in the war, that didn't have
05:24food to eat, that deal with the guns during the night, the shots, for me, this is the
05:31real pressure, as I told you before, I left my house with 11, 12 years old, I cry every
05:35day, so, honest, I'm not going to tell you that to be cocky or whatever, but pressure
05:42was zero, of course you have the other issues, make sense, going to work out…
05:48Professionally.
05:49Professionally, but in other way, to be honest, I felt free, because any place I play, I show
05:59my level, and I knew it, that I will be there, I will show my level as well, I will improve
06:04the league, and I knew it, that the players will follow me, I knew it, because not only
06:11the terms of financial, which is the main point, you can say, but as well the culture
06:17of football, I knew it, the culture of Saudi football was nice, because I have friends
06:23who played there before, coaches, Portuguese coaches was there, and of course, if you ask
06:28me, you expect so quick a big star will move there, no, but I will expect that the football
06:35will change because of me.
06:38Did you, did you, I can't get my head out of you crying when you left home at 11, what
06:45was that whole process like, and that feeling like, because I know how close you are to
06:49your mum, like you're, I always, when people ask me about you, the first thing I always
06:52say, he's a family man, and like your mum's connection with you is like, mine with my
06:57mum, what it was, like so leaving your mum, for any young people that are watching, how
07:03difficult is that, and how did you deal with that?
07:05For me it was the main point, the big three switch of my life, was to suffer a lot in
07:12that moment, this is why I'm more willing and capable now to deal with the bad moments,
07:20which we all have bad moments, when I moved with 11, 12 years old, there was the really,
07:27really hard for me, without my family, my mum, my daddy, my brothers and sisters, imagine
07:35your kid with 11 years old to go London to, I don't know, another country, it's hard now,
07:42my boys are playing football one hour away, and my head is going crazy, it's difficult,
07:46but my mum and my dad always support me to say, listen Cristiano, if you want to follow
07:51your dream, it will be hard for us, it will be hard for you, but we give you opportunity,
07:57and I left, and it was tough, and I'm blessed and I'm happy, because to pass in that moment
08:04with that difficult situation, now I'm capable to, you know, another chapter of my life,
08:11to deal with all the pressures that we still have in football, the way of football, with
08:15the family, with the wife, everything.
08:18Hey listen, let's go to Euro 24, let's do that again, sorry, Euro 24, and listen I couldn't
08:26come and speak to you without asking you, like, now you've had time to reflect, when
08:32you was in that tournament, and you were crying, what was that like, because you've got some
08:38people saying, oh why is he crying, oh it's his ego, it's this, it's that, what is the
08:44reasons behind it, and how do you feel now about looking back?
08:46It's much more easy to criticise than to appreciate what you really have, you know, we know as
08:53the press how it works, if you speak good, don't sell, you have to speak bad, it's normal,
08:58and if you speak about Cristiano, you're coming in the first page, it's normal, because I'm
09:03the most followed guy in the world, it's not only because of my pretty face, but in everything,
09:11you know, why Cristiano is the number one follow in the world, why, why do you think?
09:16Many things, goals, football, trophies, family way, lifestyle, everything, because people
09:24say why they follow, because they, in some way, they like me, you understand, I think,
09:31and they criticise all that's going to exist, and it's part of the business, for me this
09:35is not a problem, your question was, why are you crying, for example, I spoke last night
09:41about that, when you have passion for what you're doing, you cannot be worried about
09:47all your feelings, if, for example, I cry the day that I miss the penalty, which is
09:55I believe that Oblak did a fantastic save, ok, but let's interpret that I miss the penalty,
10:01when I cry, it's not because I cried because I felt that if I don't score that penalty
10:07and if Portugal will be eliminated, the Ghana world will collapse on me, not because of
10:14that real, no, it's people that don't know, they don't know me, it's, imagine that the
10:22last 27 penalties you score, you miss in that period, you feel like bad from yourself,
10:31you don't even think about that, the people who come to the stadium, your kids, your mum,
10:37your girlfriend, everyone, I felt sad because of that, you think I'm well thinking, I miss
10:44the penalty but Portugal gonna, falling down on me, they're gonna say that we failed because
10:48Cristiano missed the penalty, I didn't even think about that, I swear to God, I failed
10:52because I make pressure to myself, you know me, since with 11 years old, I always make
10:58pressure to me, Cristiano, you are the best player in the world, in my mind, I'm always
11:03thinking in that way and I put a lot of pressure to myself, you have good sides, when the things
11:08go good, ok, but when the things go wrong, you feel that too because you make too much
11:14pressure to me, I make pressure to me, but I love that, I know to deal with that, but
11:18when I miss the penalty, I felt bad with myself, the fans, the family, not because other stuff
11:26that people say that I, it's not that, it's not all love, I saw you looking into the crowd,
11:30was it like your mum, your kids, exactly, because I know, that gets me emotional, in
11:34the World Cup, I cried during the national anthem, I heard my mum screaming and it all
11:39came like this moment, what a moment, it's a special moment, it's an emotional moment,
11:45when you saw your mum, exactly, you have to express yourself, you cannot hide this kind
11:49of stuff, for me if you're hiding, you lie to yourself, you have to be yourself, doesn't
11:56matter if people like or not, you think I'm going to change now, I'm Cristiano's self,
12:02I'm going to change now, you think with nearly 40 years old, I'm going to change, of course
12:08you like me or you don't like me, it's part of the life, for me it's not a problem, in
12:12the national team, it was like that, people say, he's done, he's 39, he's getting old,
12:19you know why, because I didn't score a goal, and the rest, and the past, you know,
12:25In qualifiers you scored like 10 goals, 10 goals, and before the Euros, I scored 2 goals
12:30against Ireland, but this is part, it's real, even if I will score in Euros, not we will
12:36change what Cristiano are, people try to hiding stuff and speak bad, listen, I don't
12:44score, no problem, tomorrow I will play against the national team, and I will try to score,
12:49if I don't score, next game I will try to score, if I will be like that, does that affect
12:53you though, it doesn't affect you if you don't score goals, are you the same person around
12:57the training camp, I'm always going to score goals, for me it doesn't matter, to play against
13:00France and to play against Etifac, for me it doesn't matter, don't change nothing, if
13:06you don't score, what are you like though, what are you like to be around, are you, Ruud
13:10van Nistelrooy, remember when he didn't score, he was a nightmare, we could win 3-0, he didn't
13:15score, he's sitting like this, I have one thing that I learned real, it's, you can be
13:21upset in the moments after the game, if we win, it's always better, but if you win, if
13:28I score, I will be a little bit more happy, I have to be honest, I'm not going to be like
13:32that, not true, no, or if you lost in the game, you have to show during this period
13:39or during, that you are pissed, it's part of, but next day, I'm very capable and I learned
13:45that, listen Cristiano, let's go, life continue, past is past, it never come again, the present
13:52it's the best gift that we have in our life, the present, because you don't know what's
13:57going to happen tomorrow, you don't know, I don't know, you don't know, so live the
14:02present.
14:03How soon is that game or that moment gone then?
14:04So you finished the game, in a change of mind, I can imagine you being, we done, it was shit,
14:09you were shit, I was shit, and how soon is that game then gone, for the next game?
14:15Some games and some moments, you're getting a little bit more upset, for example, after
14:19the Euros to eliminate penalties against France, take two days, because it's a special moment,
14:27it's a special, but that's it, listen, third day, go back to the gym, work, because you
14:33have more to show, you understand, life continue, you cannot live in the past, I'm really good
14:39on that, you understand, I learned by the years that, listen Cristiano, let's go, because
14:44pain you're going to have all the time, uncertainty and constant work, constant work, constant
14:50work, doesn't matter what's going to happen in your life, you have to continue, this is
14:55the way I see the life, and football special.
14:57So the performances of Portugal in the tournament, in Euros 24, what's your thoughts on that,
15:02now you've had a bit of time to reflect, because I heard you as one of the four or five favourites
15:06to win.
15:08When you lost the penalties, this year I lost three competitions by penalties, who's going
15:18to tell me that this year I will win three trophies, can be a signal, you never know,
15:23this is football, you know football, as much as I know, it's like that, football is like
15:30that, you lost the penalties, but the game before we win the penalties, so this has happened,
15:35so for me, I can't say that was average tournament, but if we win the penalties we will play semi-final
15:44against Spain, semi-final, ok, people will understand much better, they was eliminated
15:51for Spain, or not, you never know, semi-final was like the limit, but in my opinion we lost
15:57penalties against France, which is we controlled the game, we had the best chances, it's football,
16:05it's difficult, because nobody likes to lose, but in my point of view, Portugal did average,
16:13we always can do it better, but it's a lesson for the future, in my opinion.
16:17I see when people are talking about, I was doing the TV and I see people talking about
16:22Portugal, why is Cristiano playing all the minutes, why is he always on the pitch the
16:27whole time, why doesn't the manager take him out, what do you feel, what's your opinion
16:31on stuff like that?
16:32I guess the critics always gonna exist, but the people forget one thing, they say Cristiano
16:37don't score goals, I scored two goals, I scored two goals, I was the first one to show that
16:43I miss, but I'm not gonna shy away, I'm gonna be here, even if I miss, I will shoot, you
16:52understand, and I scored two goals, a decision.
16:55Is that what you're thinking about your teammates then, they're thinking about, I'm gonna show
16:59you, listen, confidence, give you confidence.
17:01I'm real, I'm always gonna be like that, I'm never gonna shy away, never, never, and you
17:06know me, since young, I'm not shy away, I'm not that scared ass, I have cramp, which is
17:16this, I understand, some people, they don't wanna shoot penalty because they don't feel
17:21confidence, it's okay, I respect that, but Cristiano never will do that, never, even
17:28if I miss, one time, I will shoot the second time, if I lose the second time, I will shoot
17:33the third time, I'm not afraid, but always the people take the most, the worst part,
17:41not always the good part, if you ask me, you want to score during the game, yes, but doesn't
17:49happen, what I'm gonna do, I'm gonna cry, the fans love me, you understand, and this
17:54is my motivation to carry on to play football, people love me, nobody gonna take my shine
17:59away because…
18:00It's crazy though, man, it's crazy, I just sit there and just think, fucking just relax
18:04now man, just chill, and you send me messages sometimes on the text, yeah, we're both watching
18:09the same game in different parts of the world and you go, what's that, look at that, or
18:14look at me, I could score more, and I'm like, bro, relax, you've done it all, you've done
18:18everything, but you've got like an insatiable desire and obsession to just keep on like
18:25Proving people wrong, like you said, or breaking the…
18:27But in this period, the last few years, I prove not to the people who are careless,
18:34I don't care about what the people say, it's not to show my kids, they are my inspiration,
18:40because they are young, they see everything, and of course, it's myself first, I mean,
18:47I still love to play football, for example, this year I scored more than 16 goals, with
18:5339 and a half, and…
18:55But you're finished, they say, some people say, oh he's finished, he's finished, but
19:01he's got no more goals.
19:03They say whatever they want, but…
19:04Do you see all that?
19:05Do you listen to it, do you hear it, do you see it and use it as fuel?
19:09Sometimes but it's real, to be honest, I'm 39 and a half, I care less about what's…
19:17Because even when you do it good, they criticise you, and criticise is part of your journey,
19:23you understand?
19:24So, it's…
19:25I don't care about that, because even if I will win the Euros, I will continue, my
19:32anger will maintain the same, you understand?
19:35It doesn't matter for me if you win or if you lost, I will stand up the next day and
19:40I will continue.
19:41Bro, if I won the Euros at 39 years old, bro, the cigar, the feet would be up, the whisky,
19:49I would be doing it all, man.
19:51I don't understand how, I can't, and I played elite football, I just still can't,
19:55so it surprises me, it astounds me sometimes when I hear you, and you're getting up every
19:59day the same like that, like you're 18 years old.
20:03It's hard to explain, but I like to make people happy too, you know, I have fans wherever
20:07the world, and I see them highs when they see me, just, you know, when I score goals
20:15and they do it in the street every time, and I want them, yes, I want to make them happy,
20:22you know?
20:23And I'm still…
20:24I don't know when I'm going to finish, if you ask me, of course I'm closer to finish
20:27than…
20:28I have…
20:29Let's talk about finish, let's talk about this, because I like this, talking about the
20:34longevity and the rest of your career.
20:37And another thing that I learned, since you play more, you learn many, many, many things,
20:42and one thing that I learned in a few years is like, enjoy the moment.
20:47Enjoy the moment, live the moment, because you don't know what's going to happen tomorrow.
20:53So I know that I'm still looking good.
20:56I mean…
20:57Not bad, not bad.
20:59I look good, you know, I feel that I still can dribble, still shoot, score goals, jump.
21:06The day that I start to feel that I'm not producing nothing, listen, I pack my bags
21:12and I go away.
21:13But it's far from that, because, as I told you, I don't want to be cocky.
21:19I scored 16 goals this season.
21:21Now you're going to…
21:2260 goals?
21:236-0.
21:24Wow.
21:25Now you're going to speak to me about, ah, five goals, you don't score in eros, what's
21:28going on?
21:29What's the problem?
21:30I scored 130.
21:32I'm the most goal-scoring in the world history.
21:35Shit.
21:36But I will…
21:37I wish I could say that.
21:38I will put the level even high.
21:39I will put the level even high.
21:41Soon I will do it 900, and after I will beat 1,000, and I want to see.
21:46Yes.
21:47You're going to put to 1,000?
21:48I want to reach 1,000 goals in…
21:50Fucking hell.
21:51How old are you going to be then, when you're playing still?
21:5340?
21:54Well, I will try…
21:5541?
21:56We don't know.
21:57Yeah?
21:58This is why I told you, I want to live the present.
21:59But if I'm not have injuries, this is, for me, it's the most important.
22:05I want that.
22:06I want that.
22:07It's the best mark that I can have in football, is to reach first my 900 goals.
22:17After my challenge is to be 1,000 goals.
22:21With one different…
22:23All the goals that I score, they have video.
22:26So I can't prove that it's…
22:27You're a bastard.
22:28You're a bastard.
22:29They all have video.
22:30You're talking about De Stefano.
22:31You're talking about…
22:32Listen.
22:33I respect all of them.
22:34De Eusebio.
22:35They haven't got the…
22:36My goals.
22:37All goals.
22:38Certifications.
22:39And if you want more goals, I can bring from the training too.
22:43So, no problem.
22:44All the goals with video.
22:46And I will prove to the people after.
22:48They prefer this player or this or this is the best.
22:51I don't care about that.
22:52I remember when we were younger, it was in every phase of your life was competition.
22:56In the changing room, arguing with Nani or with Anderson and the guys about a tomato
23:02or something like that.
23:03Stupid.
23:04Stupid.
23:05And you used to go, Rio.
23:06And I used to go, yeah.
23:07And you used to go, see, I told you.
23:08Stupid.
23:09Mongo.
23:10Whatever.
23:11But…
23:12And table tennis.
23:13When I used to slap you a little bit.
23:14You know what I mean?
23:15But are you still competitive like that now every walk of your life?
23:18Yeah.
23:19I was in the Red Sea a couple of days ago.
23:21I play everyday paddle.
23:22Ask him.
23:23And me and Cristiano Junior, you get mad.
23:26Is it?
23:27We don't speak with me like for two days.
23:29It's the same as you.
23:30Remember when I used to beat you?
23:31This is why I'm happy.
23:32This is why I'm happy.
23:33This is why I'm happy.
23:34And even the small one, Mateu, they are pissed with the vain, very…
23:38Always pissed.
23:39But I like.
23:40This is show that they have personality.
23:41Yeah, yeah.
23:42But serious, my kids, they are like me.
23:44And I don't teach them.
23:46They see by example.
23:47Because, you know, sometimes when I lost, I get angry.
23:51Sometimes I cry.
23:52Depends on the moment.
23:53Yeah.
23:54And they are kind of the same.
23:55So, even with my kids, I compete.
23:56Even with the Gio, I'm always want to win.
23:58So, I don't give nothing for free.
24:00Remember when Nani used to cry?
24:02Do you remember this?
24:03He used to slap him.
24:04Yeah, yeah.
24:05Do you remember?
24:06Remember?
24:08Nani, yeah.
24:09Oh, he used to cry, man.
24:10Anderson, flipping hell.
24:11Yes, yes.
24:12But no, it was a good time.
24:32Yeah.
24:33Yeah.
24:34Yeah.
24:35Yeah.
24:36Yeah.
24:37Yeah.
24:38Yeah.
24:39Yeah.
24:40Yeah.
24:41Yeah.
24:42Yeah.
24:43Yeah.
24:44Yeah.
24:45Yeah.
24:46Yeah.
24:47Yeah.
24:48Yeah.
24:49Yeah.
24:50Yeah.
24:51Yeah.
24:52Yeah.
24:53Yeah.
24:54Yeah.
24:55Yeah.
24:56Yeah.
24:57Yeah.
24:58Yeah.
24:59Yeah.
25:00Yeah.