Real Madrid, Manchester United, Euro 24… I tell

So, Chris, man, we're in this wicked studio. I love it, man. And you know what we're going to do? I've seen these things here, and I think every time we're going to change topic... They're called buzz, no? They're buzz bars, yeah. I'll just bang it. Or you bang it when you want to change it. You can start. Well, let's start then, man. Right. Al Nassar, Saudi, going there, huge news. Like, you changed everything when you went there. Like, what were the most difficult things for you to adapt to when you went to Saudi, coming from Europe? Rio, as you know, my whole life, it's about challenge. I left my house at 11 years old to live in a big city. So, for me, it's easy, because I changed Madeira to Lisbon, Lisbon to England, England to Italy, Italy, I'm back, Spain, Spain. For me, it's not a problem. For me, you know, it's part of my life. I'm used to have this kind of life. And, to be honest, it was very easy for me. You can speak about religion or about the weather, but no country is perfect. So, for me, the adaptation was easy, and I really love it to be there, to be honest. It's interesting what you said about, like, no country is perfect. That's exactly what I was thinking when I saw you go, and I saw the news start coming out about Saudi, and I saw a lot of the Western world saying, pointing the finger, saying negative stuff. I'm like, are we that good? Are we that perfect? That we have got no problems? Like, everyone has problems, man. But it's about facing the problems and then making a step forward. I mean, and is there any little things that you've thought, wow, I didn't expect that to be there when you went there, or that have been good, positive as well, or negative? As I told you before, for me, all the countries have their issues. It's normal. There, they have fantastic things. To be honest, I'm really happy to be there, me and my family. I saw you on the beach. And, yes, yes, for example, the Red Sea, which is my second house or the first house, because it's a place that's unbelievable. It's like a diamond there. I love to be there. When are you going to invite me, man? What's going on? We speak about that. You will love it, you and your family. Trust me, it's one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. Yes, yes. And not only that part there, for example, Alula, which is in some place in the desert. Have you been there? I've been there. It's an amazing place. Oh, you've been in Alula? Yeah, when I went there, my friend started crying. It's beautiful. We went into the hotel, and my friend was... I looked around, and my friend was like... Yeah, yeah, you know why? Because it's sacred. How is it sacred? Spiritual. Yeah, spiritual. It's spiritual. You can feel the energy there. That they have some spiritual thing. Different, isn't it? I felt as well, to be honest. And they have that, they have the Red Sea, they have even in the mountains, they have snow, that people... Snow in Saudi, yes, they have snow. They have everything, so it's a lovely country. I love to be there. My family love to be there. And as I told you, the adaptation for me wasn't too difficult. And I'm happy there. What are the differences between the leagues? Because everyone says, the league's not any good there. Well, you play there, you know, what's the difference? All the leagues, they are different. In my opinion, it's the people speak more than they really know. All the leagues, in my opinion, they have issues. But the league, I tell you, 100%. And you can... When you're going to do interview to another players who play there, they will tell you, it's not easy. It's not easy, it's very difficult. Plus the weather, which is very hot. And you know, when it's hot, it's more difficult to maintain the level of the game. But in my opinion, the league is very, very good and they still grow and grow and improve. And I'm happy because I was the pioneer of the country in football. So I'm glad for that. Yeah, a bit like Bex in America, with the MLS, what he's doing over there and what he's done has been magic. And what you're doing here, even to my mind, you've created a whole movement of people coming. How much pressure did you feel being the first real big star to come and say to everybody, come on, follow me? Was that big pressure for you? You know, as I was young, I had a different personality. I believe in myself, in other... Not only in football, but in other areas as well. To be honest, there was zero pressure. I didn't have any pressure. What? So when I moved there, I didn't feel pressure. For me, pressure... Even with everyone going crazy... You know, for me, the pressure, it's the people who was in a war, that didn't have food to eat, that deal with the guns during the night, the shots. For me, this is the real pressure. As I told you before, I left my house with 11, 12 years old. I cry every day, so... Honest, I'm not going to tell you that to be cocky or whatever, but pressure was zero. Of course, you have the other issues. Make sense, going to work out... Professionally. But in other way, to be honest, I felt free, because any place I play, I show my level. And I knew that I will be there. I will show my level as well. I will improve the league. And I knew that the players will follow me. I knew it, because not only the terms of financial, which is the main point, you can say, but as well the culture of football. I knew the culture of Saudi football was nice, because I have friends who played there before, Portuguese coaches who were there. And of course, if you ask me, do you expect so quickly that big stars will move there? No. But I will expect that the football will change because of me. Did you... I can't get my head out of you crying when you left home at 11. What was that whole process like and that feeling like? Because I know how close you are to your mum. When people ask me about you, the first thing I always say is, he's a family man. Your mum's connection with you is like mine with my mum, what it was. So leaving your mum, for any young people that are watching, how difficult is that and how did you deal with that? For me, it was the main point, the big switch of my life, was to suffer a lot in that moment. This is why I'm more willing and capable now to deal with the bad moments, which we all have bad moments. When I moved with 11, 12 years old there, it was really, really hard for me without my family, my mum, my daddy, my brothers and sisters. Imagine your kid with 11 years old to go to London to, I don't know... Another country. Another country or... It's hard now, my boys are playing football one hour away and my head is going crazy. It's difficult, but my mum and my dad always support me to say, listen, Cristiano, if you want to follow your dream, it will be hard for us, it will be hard for you, but we give you opportunity. And I left and it was tough and I'm blessed and I'm happy because to pass in that moment with that difficult situation, now I'm capable to, you know, another chapter of my life to deal with all the pressures that we still have in football, the way of football, with the family, with the wife, everything. Hey, listen, let's go to Euro 24. I was like... I'm going to do that again, sorry. Euro 24. And listen, I couldn't come and speak to you without asking you, now you've had time to reflect. When you were in that tournament and you were crying, what was that like? Because you've got some people saying, why is he crying? Why is his ego? Is this, is that? What are the reasons behind it? And how do you feel now about looking back? It's much more easy to criticise than appreciate what you really have. We know the press, how it works. If you speak good, don't sell. You have to speak bad. It's normal. And if you speak about Cristiano, you're coming in the first page. It's normal, because I'm the most followed guy in the world. It's not only because of my pretty face, but in everything, you know. Why Cristiano is the number one follower in the world? Why? What do you think? Many things. Goals, trophies. Trophies, family, lifestyle, everything. Because people say, why are they following? Because they, in some way, they like me. You understand? I think. And they criticise all that's going to exist. And it's part of the business. For me, this is not a problem. Your question was, Eros, why are you crying? For example, I spoke last night about that. When you have passion for what you're doing, you cannot be worried about all your feelings. If, for example, I cry the day that I miss the penalty, which is, I believe, that Oblak did a fantastic save. OK, but let's interpret it that I missed the penalty. When I cry, it's not because I cried because I felt that if I don't score that penalty and if Portugal will be eliminated, the world will collapse on me. Not because of that, really. No. It's people that don't know. They don't know me. It's... Imagine that the last 27 penalties you score, you miss, in that period, you feel like bad from yourself. You don't even think about that. The people who come to the stadium, your kids, your mum, your girlfriend, everyone, I felt sad because of that. You think I'm well-thinking, I missed the penalty, but Portugal is going to fall down on me. They're going to say we failed because Cristiano missed it. But I didn't even think about that. I swear to God. I failed because I put pressure on myself. You know me. Since I was 11 years old, I always put pressure on myself. Cristiano, you are the best player in the world. In my mind, I'm always thinking that way. And I put a lot of pressure on myself. You have good sides when things go well, OK? But when things go wrong, you feel that too because you put too much pressure on me. But I love that. I know how to deal with that. But when I missed the penalty, I felt bad with myself, the fans, the family, not because of other stuff that people say that I... It's not that. I saw you looking into the crowd. Was it your mum or your kids? Exactly. That gets me emotional. In the World Cup, I cried during the national anthem. I heard my mum screaming. And it all came, like, this moment, what a moment. It's a special moment. It's an emotional moment. When you saw your mum... Exactly. You have to express yourself. You cannot hide this kind of stuff. For me, if you're hiding, you lie to yourself. You have to be yourself. It doesn't matter if people like it or not. You think I'm going to change now? Our Cristiano self is always... I'm going to change now. You think, at nearly 40 years old, I'm going to change? Of course not. You like me or you don't like me, it's part of life. For me, it's not a problem. In the national team, it was like that. People say, he's done, he's 39, he's getting old. You know why? Because I didn't score a goal. And the rest, and the past... In qualifiers, you scored, like, ten goals. Ten goals. And before the Euros, I scored two goals against Ireland. But this is part, it's real. Even if I will score in Euros, not we will change what Cristiano are. People try to hide stuff and speak badly. Listen, I don't score, no problem. Tomorrow, I will play against the national team. And I will try to score. If I don't score, next game, I will try to score. Does that affect you? It doesn't affect you if you don't score goals? Are you the same person around the training camp? I'm always going to score goals. For me, it doesn't matter. To play against France and to play against Etifac, for me, it doesn't matter. Don't change nothing. If you don't score, what are you like? What are you like to be around? Are you Ruud van Nistelrooy? Remember, when he didn't score, he was like that. We could win 3-0, he didn't score, he's sitting like this. Yeah. I have one thing that I learned, real. It's... You can be upset in the moments after the game. If we win, it's always better. But if you win, if I score, I will be a little bit more happy. I have to be honest. I'm not going to be like that. Or if you lost in the game, you have to show during this period that you are pissed. It's part of... But the next day, I'm very capable and I learn that, listen, Cristiano, let's go. Life continues. Past is past, it never comes again. The present, it's the best gift that we have in our life. The present. Because you don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. You don't know. I don't know, you don't know. So live the present. How soon is that game or that moment gone then? So you finish the game, in a change of mind, I can imagine you being, we done, it was shit, you were shit, I was shit. How soon is that game then gone for the next game? Some games and some moments, you're getting a little bit more upset, for example, after the Euros to eliminate penalties against France. Take two days. Because it's a special moment, pressure. But that's it. Listen, third day, go back to the gym, work, because you have more to show. You understand? Life continues. You cannot live in the past. I'm really good on that, you understand? I learned by the years that, listen, Cristiano, let's go. Because pain, you're going to have all the time, uncertainty and constant work, constant work, constant work. It doesn't matter what's going to happen in your life, you have to continue. This is the way I see the life, and football especially. So the performances of Portugal in the tournament in Euros 24, what's your thoughts on that? Now you've had a bit of time to reflect, because I had you as one of the four or five favourites to win. When you lost the penalties, this year I lost three competitions by penalties. Wow. Who's going to tell me that this year I will win three trophies? It can be a signal. You never know. This is football. You know football, as much as I know, that it's like that. Football is like that. You lost the penalty, but the game before we won the penalties. So this has happened. So for me, I can't say that was an average tournament, but if you win the penalties, you will play the semi-final against Spain. Semi-final, OK. People will understand much better if they were eliminated for Spain or not. You never know. Semi-finals was like the limit. But in my opinion, we lost penalties against France, which is we controlled the game. We had the best chances. It's football. It's difficult because nobody likes to lose, but in my point of view, Portugal do it average. We always can do it better, but it's a lesson for the future, in my opinion. But you're finished, they say. Some people say, oh, he's finished, but he's got nine goals. They say whatever they want, but... Do you see all that? Do you listen to it? Do you hear it? Do you see it and use it as fuel? Sometimes, but really, to be honest, I'm 39 and a half. I care less about what's... Because even when you do it good, they criticise you. And criticising is part of your journey, you understand? So, it's... I don't care about that because even if I will win the Euros, I will continue. My anger will maintain the same, you understand? It doesn't matter for me if you win or if you lost. I will stand up the next day and I will continue. Bro, if I won the Euros at 39 years old, bro, the cigar, the feet would be up, the whiskey, I would be doing it all, man. And I don't understand how I can't... And I played elite football, I just still can't... So, it surprises me and it astounds me sometimes when I hear you... And you're getting up every day the same like that, like you're 18 years old. It's hard to explain, but I like to make people happy too. You know, I have fans all over the world. And I see them highs when they see me. Just, you know, when I score goals and they do it in the street every time. And I want them... Yes. I want to make them happy, you know? And I'm still... I don't know when I'm going to finish. If you ask me, of course I'm closer to finish than... I have... Let's talk about finish. Talk about this, because I like this. Talking about the longevity and the rest of your career. And another thing that I learned, since you play more, you learn many, many, many things. And one thing that I learned in a few years is like, enjoy the moment. Enjoy the moment, live the moment, because you don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. So, I know that I'm still looking good. I mean... Not bad, not bad. I look good, you know, I feel... I still can dribble, still shoot, score goals, jump. The day that I start to feel that I'm not producing anything... Listen, I pack my bags and I go away. But it's far from that, because, as I told you, I don't want to be cocky. I scored 16 goals this season. Now you're going to... 60 goals? 6-0. Now you're going to speak to me about... Five goals, you don't score in Euros. What's going on? What's the problem? I scored 130. I'm the most goal-scoring in the world's history. But I will put the level even higher. I will put the level even higher. Soon I will do it 900. And after, I will beat 1,000. And I want to see. Yes. You're going to put to 1,000? I want to reach 1,000 goals in... How old are you going to be then, when you're playing still? Well, I will try... 41? We don't know. This is why I told you, I want to live the present. But if I don't have injuries... That's good. For me, this is the most important. I want that. I want that. For me, it's the best mark that I can have in football. It's to reach first my 900 goals. After, my challenge is to beat 1,000 goals. With one difference. All the goals that I score, they have video. So I can't prove that it's... You're a bastard. They all have video. You're talking about De Stefano, Pele, Eusebio... My goals, all goals... Certifications. And if you want more goals, I can bring from the training too. So, no problem. All the goals with video. And I will prove to the people after. They prefer this player or this, or this is the best. I don't care about that. I remember when we were younger, it was in every phase of your life was competition. In the changing room, arguing with Nani or Anderson and the guys about a tomato or something stupid. And you used to go, Rio! And I used to go, yeah. And you used to go, see, I told you, you stupid idiot. Mongo, whatever. And table tennis, when I used to slap you a little bit. But are you still competitive like that now, every walk of your life? Yeah. I was in the Red Sea a couple of days ago. I played every day padel. Ask him. And me and Cristiano Junior, we get mad. Is it? We don't speak with me like for two days. It's the same as you. Yeah, the same. This is why I'm happy. And even the small one, Mateu, they are pissed with the vain, very... Always pissed. But I like, this is show that they have personality. But serious, my kids, they are like me. And I don't teach them. They see by example. Because, you know, sometimes when I lost, I get angry. Sometimes I cry. Depends on the moment. And they are kind of the same. So, even with my kids, I compete. Even with the Gio, I'm always want to win. So, I don't give nothing for free. Remember when Nani used to cry? Table tennis. He used to slap him. Do you remember? You've got to go again. I love that, man. I'm going to kill this all day. Let's go to European football and European football clubs. Obviously, you've got a big history there. And Real Madrid. You have a great connection there. Some fantastic years. Firstly, what do you think of their season last year? Real Madrid? La Liga. Real Madrid are looking very, very good. It's the kind of team that don't rush under pressure. This is why most of the people say, they are lucky in the Champions League. No, they are not lucky. They have their brain. They prepare for this kind of moments. Bernabeu, the stadiums, they have a different aura. You understand? The energy is different. And when the big teams go there, they score one goal, 85 minutes, 90 minutes. The pressure is a lot. For me, it's the best club ever in the history of football. How would you say? Madrid going to be better or going to be... We don't know. Let's see. Let's see, you know, Mbappé go there now. I think Madrid will keep strong. But I don't know if they will be better than last year. I don't know. Let's see. Only God knows. But they have a fantastic team, fantastic players. I believe that they're going to be one of the best teams in the world. How do you continuously churn out, every season, mad numbers the way you were doing it? Like, you were scoring a ridiculous amount of goals every year in the pressure cooker of the Bernabeu. I was... Trophies and goals. I win trophies, I win everything there. I'm the record of goals of the club. And for me, it was a pleasure to play in Real Madrid for eight seasons, eight, nine seasons. And to win four Champions Leagues there and Golden Boots and everything, I win there. So I love that place. I want to talk about when you went there, but obviously you've got Kylian Mbappé going there now. And we'll get on to him, but... Wait, so it'd be similar for him. When you went there, what was the pressure like in the changing room? Because you had big... I remember we spoke years ago and it was like, you said, there's a big Spanish contingent there. It's going to be difficult for me to get in. And I was the most expensive player ever. Yeah, what was that like? It was pressure, but in the same way I believe in myself. I say, listen, if I was the best player in the Premier League and I win the Golden Ball in Manchester United Champions League, and this is the league, but I was... I knew that I will do it well. I knew it because, as I told you, I believe in my skills. I believe in my talent. It was difficult because it's a different country, the adaptation. I was 24, still young, but in the same way I was very, very positive. The best club in the world. I say, I'm going to make history in this club like I did in Manchester United. It was a challenge for me, but as you know, I'm a challenged person. I like to show the people that they are wrong, you understand? And even with the age right now that we're going to speak later about that, I like to prove the opposite of what the people are thinking. So it was a big challenge for me and I was very, very, very happy to play in Real Madrid in that period. What are going to be the problems and what does Kylian Mbappe need to do going in there? I think he's going to do it well, to be honest, because the structure of the club, it's nice, it's good, it's solid. You understand? And they have a great coach and the president who are there many, many years. I think it's not going to be a big issue for him, not going to be a big problem, because it's a challenge. He shows everything what he's capable of doing. And I think he's going to do it well, to be honest, because in my opinion, he can be the next golden ball for the next years. Him, probably Haaland, Bellingham... Vinicius. Lamine. I think it's this new generation, they have a lot of potential, but I believe that he's going to do it very well. And I look at your team and I was mesmerised by, obviously, yourself, the age that you're playing at, at the level, and Pep. Talk to me about your partnership, your bromance a little bit, and how you both... Give me a bit of insight into how he's maintained the level he's played at as well. 40 years old. Yes, 41. Crazy, crazy. 40 out of 40, I couldn't... I play extra time, one game, 40 minutes. Four days after, I play extra time again. People don't appreciate that. They always say, why you play, why you play? Okay, but this is what I'm going to do. And against Georgia, I played 60 minutes, so I didn't play all the minutes. It's longevity, it's the mindset of when you reach some age, the difference is your mind, it's not the body anymore. Because the body has memory, you understand? If you treat your body well, 10 years, 15 years, they're going to respect you, if you treat them well. After, it will be in your mind, always will be in your mind. If you want to play four, five years more, because in all the sports, the average age, it's between 30s and 40s, they finish. If you see, tennis, Formula One, the best guys, football. Consistent. It's that age that you start to lose your testosterone, whatever, your hormones and everything. It's normal, it's a process of life. But Pepe and me, we are a good example because we treat good the body during so many, many years. He's a bastard on the pitch, though, isn't he? Yes, yes, yes. But outside the pitch, yes, yes, yes. But outside the pitch, he's a very good guy and he's a very professional guy, too. How do you do it? You finish a season, you win everything, win the Golden Ball. What's your mindset when the season finishes in the summer so don't go again? Really, for me, it's only one word to define that. Enthusiasm. If you don't have enthusiasm in your life, this is why I was, last night, dinner with my family, with my mom, and we speak about some situations that happen in Euros. It's the enthusiasm that I still have for the game. I'm addicted for football. I'm addicted to score goals and to play in a good level, even with my age, because I love this game. It's crazy, though, man. It's crazy. I just sit there and just think, fucking just relax now, man. Talking about longevity and playing, someone's cut their career short, I think. I think he could continue playing. Tony Cruz. Tell me a little bit about him. You played with him, obviously, at Real Madrid. What was he like? Listen, it's the way he sees the football, the way he sees life. We don't know, behind the football, what's going on in his life. We have to respect him, you know, because the people see now more people, the longevity, but we are not all the same, you understand? I respect his decisions, because it's the kind of a guy say, I will do that, and he do it, you understand? I respect, but if you ask me, he can play a few years more, yes, but maybe he have other issues that he don't want to... It's full of football, and you have to respect that. I've got to do it again. Man United, Man United. What's your thoughts on Man United? Let's go back. You went back to Man United. We spoke on the phone when you was going to go and sign at Man United, when you were negotiating to come back, and my wife wanted to kill me. At one o'clock in the morning, you rang me. What's going on? Can you sort this out? You end up signing, signing for United. Initially, that must have been a beautiful thing for you, because I remember on the phone, you sounded so happy, and then, obviously, it went a bit sour. Just give us a bit of insight, and do you feel you've been proven right in what you said in the interview you done when you first left? To prove that I'm right or wrong, this is not my issues anymore. I say what I have to say, and for me, it's done, but to be honest with you, what I wish for Manchester, it's what I wish for me. The best they can make against the best team they can, and I love that club. You know, I'm not that kind of guy that forgot the past. When I'm back there, I was very happy. I was one of the best scorers. I did unbelievable things with the club, my first season with 37. I was the third best scorer of the league. I scored all the group stage. I scored every game. Even in the league, I scored 17 goals, 18 goals. I did amazing, but as I told you, Manchester, they need to rebuild everything, in my opinion. The coach, they say a few days ago that they cannot compete to win the Champions League. I mean, the league and Champions League. Imagine the coach say that all the club are. You cannot say, if you are a Manchester United coach, you cannot say that you're not gonna fight to win the league or Champions League. You have to mentally say, listen, maybe we don't have that potential, but I cannot say that. We're gonna try. We're gonna try. You have to try. But maybe that was when we was there. That was the culture. Maybe the culture is different now, but it had to have a reset because the standards have gone down. The expectations have to come down. Yeah, exactly. Maybe. This is why I say, but this club needs time to rebuild. Because it's still one of the best clubs in the world, but they need to change. And they understand that it's the only way. And this is why you show that they start to change again, the structure of the club, the president, the infrastructures and everything, the owners of the club. They're investing in the training ground, like you said. So I'm happy because I'm not happy with the way it all happened. But in the same way, we cannot control some points in our life sometimes. But it's done, already done. And I repeat, I still love Manchester United and I wish them the best. Where do you see the promise in the squad? You look at their squad now, you look at Gannaccio. I'm not talking about players, attacking players, really. And you see, you probably look there first, the Gannaccios, the Rashfords, the Hoylans. You look at that and you think, okay, where do you see the promise there? I believe that the future will be bright. I believe. But they don't depend only on the talents. It's more than that. It's all club. All, not only players, club. Everything as a unit, United, you know? They have to rebuild from the bottom. If not, they cannot compete. It will be impossible. They can do good things. Yes, they can win Carabao or can win... Yeah, but, I mean, Champions League or Europa League or Premier League, difficult, in my opinion. And I wish that I'm wrong. I wish. But it will be difficult. Do you think Ruud... Obviously, we know Ruud. He's gone back there now. I think he will help a lot. Yeah? In which way? What do you mean now? If Ten Hag listens to Ruud, maybe he can... I think he can help a lot because he knows the club. And the club should listen to the guys who were there. You or Roy Keane or Paul Scholes or Gary Neville, whatever. Sir Alex Ferguson. You cannot... You cannot rebuild a club without knowledge. Not guys who work in office. They understand. I understand a lot of football because I see football on television every day and I understand. No, this doesn't work like that. The people who understand football, 99% is the people who were there in the dressing room, who were players. Who are the most successful coaches in the world? Guardiola, Ferguson. There were players before. They were in the dressing room. They understand. They know how to deal with the players. It's the people who understand the things. You understand? It's true. If you want to go to Formula One now to be injured, you don't know. I don't know. You understand? It should be guys who work that. It's like if you have electricity problems in your house, you don't call the plumber. Exactly. I know, but I was... In my computer, I know how to change. No, this doesn't work like that. It's true. You understand what I mean? So I believe that Ruud is going to help because he was inside the club. He knows the club. He knows the fans. If the coach listens to him, I think they can improve a little bit the club. Just on that point, you've played and we're going a bit off topic here, but you've played at loads of clubs at the top level. Obviously, there's always been young players at all those clubs. What are the young players like interacting with you at these clubs? Have you got any good examples of players that come to you for advice or you can tell that they're watching you? Who are those guys and what's it like? I don't like to mention names, but not many in the same way. I remember when I was 18 in Manchester United. You know me very well. I don't lie. I see the best examples. I see Gary Neville, your example, Giggsie, Roy Keane. What I do, I check everything and I take from what you do best, what Gary do best, and I make my own personality, my own style, my own profession. You understand? And the players today, they don't do that. What was it about those guys? What did you take from me then? You are professional. Good-looking is very far from that. No, but you always do it in the gym. You're always strong, centre-back, strong, with good muscles. In the pitch, but outside, you do it in the gym. I remember, a lot. You're a tall guy, but a strong guy. Abs with the cleggie and everything. It'd be interesting to see what one of the greatest players has played, what he thinks about the next generation coming now to take over the crown maybe at some point. Like the likes of Leminioma. What do you see in this young player? I see huge potential, great talent. He needs luck because he's very young. I hope he doesn't get some problems, but... He's doing something even you or Messi have never done, 16 years old. Yes, he was in contests that helped him a lot. The Spain national team is really, really good. And I think he has huge potential. But let's see. Doing his way, that's what's going to happen. But I believe that he's going to do it. He's going to be the best players for this new generation. How impressed were you with Jude Berlingham coming to Real Madrid? Obviously, you know that path and that journey and how difficult it can be. How impressed have you been with him in his first year at Real Madrid? It's the same. It's huge potential, huge talent. He goes to the club where the environment is clean and good. And he grows. He grows, like the other ones, like Camavinga, like Rodrigo, like Vinicius. So it's good. I think he's in a team that helps him to be a top player. And I believe, too, that he's going to be one of the best in the next generation. And that takes me to your son now, Chris Junior. He wants to be a footballer. How would you feel about going, like, right, go on, you go. As I told you, I say I give you the map as an example. Because, you know, this generation is difficult for you to tell them something and let them to do it. It's difficult. Your kids, you felt that it's really difficult. But always in my mind put, you will see your daddy by example. They see me every day, what I do. In home, in the training or in the game, they say, my daddy's work a lot every time. You understand? They see that. They see that. And, but right in this moment, Cristiano wants to be a football player, but I'm not make a big pressure. I make a little bit of pressure. He's 14 years old. How I'm going to do it? He have the pressure already to be son of Cristiano. Imagine if I make now, in the middle of big lions, right now, let him do his mistakes, let him do his things. But I hope so in the future, he can be a professional player. Or if he's not be a player, be another job. But I will always support them because we cannot make a pressure in our sons because we are famous. And because of that, I don't want to make that extra pressure. Because you've been able to give them a different life to what you had. Yeah, we both had humble upbringings when we were young. We've lived good lives now because of football. Their lives are different. So how do you give them hunger? How do you give them the work ethic? By example. I think it's the only way. I give good education to my kids, but by example. I think it's the best way. To try to teach them and give you my advice, my knowledge, my experience. Look, it's the truth. When you say the truth, something happens. You see? The main guy, five Champions League. They say the truth. Listen, I don't lie. No, it's true. It's true. This is why I have conversations with my friends a couple of days and I say, my kid's going to suffer, your kid's going to suffer. Because one moment of their life, they're going to have pain. You understand? And the pain, uncertainty, and what they have to do, it's constant work. Because nobody's going to help them. They're going to be themselves in a hard moment and they're going to fall down. They have to stand, cry alone, and keep going. Did you always feel different to everybody else? Like, even as a kid at Sporting, growing up, and then when you signed to United, you got a big... Did you always feel that you were a bit special? I felt that my education was different. The environment that I was born in was different. And the mindset was different as well. But if you ask me why, I don't know. I don't know why we... Because I think all human beings, we are kind of... We have some talent and we are unique. We are special in some way. And I'm not saying I'm more special than you or more special than him. I was different. And I take advantage for my contests, the help that I have with my family, the closest friends that I always surround. This is the last one. I've got one more question. What will you miss, though, man? You're going to have to give up this game one day. I know you're the kind of guy who wants to play for another four or five years. If you do that, you deserve it. But when you finally take your boots off for the last time, what will be one of the couple of things that you go, you know what, I'm going to miss that? Like, I miss when I go into a stadium on the big moments. I think that I'm not going to miss... I'm not going to have the adrenaline to score a goal. Or to be nervous. You know, I think I'm going to miss that. Because other parts, I'm in good control. I have people around me. I have good business. I have good things, good incomes. But I think the adrenaline of football is never going to exist more. This is why I'm going a little bit further in football. Because with 40s, as you say, I give everything. You understand? 40 or 41 or 42, it doesn't matter. You say, I give my body for 25 years of football. I cannot give more because, you know, the age doesn't allow it to go more further. For example, this is why I extend. You understand my longevity. And this is why I take care of myself, I keep working. Because I know that two, three years more, I still can produce something good. This is why I told you. Let me think in the present. I do other parts. I prepare my business area, which is going very, very, very well. I will miss. Of course, I will miss. Probably, I will be a little bit lost. But listen, what am I going to do? You think I'm going to cry with all the life that I have? Yeah, maybe a little bit. Because I've become more sensitive. But I will be a little bit like that. But I have other things to worry. It's going to be another chapter of my life, which is a business part that I'm excited to. And that will be a challenge for me. And learn other areas that I really don't know. Be more involved in my business. And I'm surrounded by very, very, very good heads, which is, for me, the key to have success outside of football as well. It's to have people smarter than you. And you have to be capable to understand that. I think I'm smart in football. But in other areas, I have people much more smarter than me. So you have to be surrounded with them, to learn with them. And you make your own style. And to be good with these people, so the business goes up, in my opinion. All right, man. Listen, thank you. Thank you, man. Pleasure, man. Lovely to come here. You are a good guy, and I'm happy to give this interview to you. I wish it's not the first one and the last one, because life will continue. My channel will continue, and other projects will continue. I'm happy for you, man. Appreciate it, man. Thank you so much.