Luka Modric enjoyed a glittering spell alongside Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid but the Portuguese forward was reduced to tears in the dressing room by one former manager
Jose Mourinho once berated Cristiano Ronaldo so much that he burst into tears, according to former Real Madrid star Luka Modric. The Croatian midfielder spent a glittering spell playing alongside the Portuguese icon at the Santiago Bernabeu.
During that time, they lifted two Spanish league titles, four Champions League crowns and a whole host of other trophies. Both Modric and Ronaldo also played under former Manchester United and Chelsea boss Mourinho, who spent two seasons in charge of Madrid.
And it appears that he certainly left his impression on the now AC Milan midfielder. Speaking to Corriere della Sera, Modric said: “[He is] special. As a coach and as a person. He was the one who wanted me at Real Madrid. Without Mourinho, I would never have arrived. I’m sorry I only had him for one season.”
And while Modric is a huge fan of Mourinho’s managerial talents, it appears that his demands got to Ronaldo, who was left in tears after a particularly fierce dressing down.
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“I saw him (Mourinho) make Cristiano Ronaldo cry in the locker room, a man who gives his all on the pitch, because for once he didn’t chase the opposing full-back. Mourinho is very direct with the players, but he’s honest,” Modric added.
“He treated Sergio Ramos and the new arrivals the same way: if he had to tell you something, he’d tell you. Max (Allegri, Modric’s current Milan manager) is like that too: he tells you to your face what’s right and what’s wrong. Honesty is fundamental.”
While Ronaldo and Mourinho have on occasion endured a frosty relationship, the Al-Nassr forward previously labelled his compatriot as the best coach that he had ever played under.
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Speaking in 2015, the veteran forward said: “I would put him at the top, I always say that. He’s a good coach, he did many good things and won many trophies for other clubs.”
Meanwhile, Mourinho has also pointed to occasions where the pair would argue about his decisions to take Ronaldo off the pitch.
“You have guys like Cristiano, where you are playing against Levante and you are winning five-nil and you tell the guy to relax and take a rest,” he said. “No, no, no, I can score one more goal!’ When you have guys like this, you know the boat is in the water and you just let the boat go and in the end you enjoy the fight.”
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