Real Madrid’s training ground undergoes interesting changes during Cristiano Ronaldo’s time at the club, with Royston Drenthe
Real Madrid’s training ground has undergone interesting changes during Cristiano Ronaldo’s time at the club, thanks to Dutch defender Royston Drenthe, GOAL reports. According to Rafael van der Vaart, Ronaldo was greatly challenged by Drenthe’s defensive abilities, with the Portuguese superstar opting to switch sides in an attempt to evade the Dutch full-back’s relentless marking.
Ronaldo’s move from Manchester United to Real Madrid in 2009 marked a pivotal moment in football history. During training, however, versatile Netherlands international Drenthe presented a unique challenge to the five-time Ballon d’Or winner. Van der Vaart, who also plays for Real Madrid, shared a memorable duel between Ronaldo and Drenthe, saying: “He loved playing against Cristiano Ronaldo in training. I found it a challenge. “Cristiano No started running down the left wing because he no longer knew what to do with Drenthe. “
Interestingly, Ronaldo, who usually dominates the right wing, was forced to adjust his offensive approach due to Drenthe’s defensive abilities. The Dutch full-back’s pace, agility and technical ability confounded Ronaldo, prompting him to switch tactics to the left wing in training.
While Ronaldo enjoyed unprecedented success as a striker, Drenthe’s career took a different trajectory. Despite showing promise, Drenthe never fully realized its potential. Van der Vaart lamented Drenthe’s failure to fulfill his potential, calling him “the best left-back the Netherlands has ever produced”. Drenthe’s career spanned a number of clubs, including loan spells at Hercules and Everton, and he retired at the age of 36, ending a journey filled with promise and unrealized potential.