Ex-Real Madrid midfielder Rafael van der Vaart has lauded one-time club-mate Cristiano Ronaldo as a "phenomenon" - while also identifying an area in which he feels he outstrips the four-time Ballon d'Or winner.
"He's a phenomenon; when I trained alongside him, I found him so impressive - particularly his athletic capacity," he explained to Ziggo Sport in his native Holland.
Cristiano and Van der Vaart coincided at Real in the Portuguese's first season at the Bernabéu.
Van der Vaart: "I have to say I've got better technique"
"But I have to say that I've got better technique than him," declared Van de Vaart, who shared the Real dressing room with the Portugal captain in the 2009/10 season, the second of his two years in Madrid.
The former Dutch international, who is currently at Danish side FC Midtjylland following an unsuccessful spell at Real Betis in 2015/16, added: "When you see him in training, you realise how incredible he is from a physical point of view."
