New Delhi: The infamous Inter Milan coach has responded to Sir Alex Ferguson's comparisons between Ronaldo and all-time greats Pele and Diego Maradona, claiming that the United ace is over-rated.
Earlier this month, Cristiano Ronaldo was crowned as European Footballer of the Year, following an unforgettable club year with Manchester United, where he won the the Premier League, Champions League, and finished the 2007/08 season with 42 goals to claim the European Golden Boot.
However, the Portuguese has always divided opinion, with many people claiming that he fails to perform in big games, against better opponents in the crunch matches.
Yesterday, his club manager Sir Alex Ferguson compared Ronaldo to footballing greats Diego Maradona and Pele, but Jose Mourinho, Sir Alex and indeed Ronaldo's rival during his time in charge of Chelsea, has laughed off the comparisons.
"Ronaldo is a good player, but he is not the best in the world," 'The Special One' told Simona Ventura on RAIDUE show ‘Quelli Che il Calcio'.
"He deserved the Ballon d’Or this year because his club side won the Champions League, the Premier League and he scored many goals."
Mourinho then stressed though that Ronaldo could not be placed in the same class category as Lionel Messi, Kaka and his own star Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
"When I think of how a player should be, I think of Kaka, Ibrahimovic and Messi [not Ronaldo]," he explained.
"Messi is a phenomenon, but in my opinion, Ibrahimovic is the best."
Mourinho then spoke about his concerns over whether troubled Brazilian striker Adriano will ever find his best form again, but it is his remarks concerning Ronaldo that have grabbed the headlines.
Inter take on Manchester United in the Champions League last 16 in February, and Ronaldo will be under pressure to prove Mourinho wrong.
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