Raphael Varane has lifted the lid on Cristiano Ronaldo's fitness secrets
Raphael Varane has opened up on Cristiano Ronaldo's fitness secrets
Former Manchester United defender Raphael Varane has opened up about Cristiano Ronaldo's commitment to maintaining his first-class fitness levels.
Having played alongside Ronaldo at Real Madrid from 2011 to 2018 and then at United from August 2021 to November 2022, Varane is well-placed to comment on the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's longevity in the sport. The ex-French international, who hung up his boots in September 2024, revealed that Ronaldo's secret lies in his "extraordinary" willpower and dedication.
Speaking to L'Équipe, Varane highlighted how Ronaldo, who celebrated his 40th birthday last week, started "investing" in his body and mind when he first joined the Red Devils as an 18-year-old.
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"Firstly, he has an extraordinary physique," said the 31-year-old Varane. "More importantly, he understood very young, very early on, that he needed to invest in his body to achieve his ambitions.
"He invested a lot of money throughout his career in his care, physically, mentally, or in performance research. That's the big difference with many high-level athletes: he did it from the start of his career when he was at Manchester United.
"What isn't replicable is his willpower, absolutely extraordinary. His competitiveness is quite incredible, and that will be hard to copy; it's something you either have or don't. Making sacrifices, taking care of oneself, arriving earlier for training is within everyone's reach, but it requires willpower. It's very mental."
Varane, who clinched the Champions League title four times alongside Ronaldo at Madrid, also remarked on Ronaldo's meticulous attention to his fitness, which has contributed to his staggering tally of 923 career goals, describing it as bordering on obsessive. He verified the story that Ronaldo would immediately hit the gym upon the team bus's return from an away game, reports the Manchester Evening News.
"They say genius borders on madness, and what he does is sometimes a bit mad. It's so intense that it's impressive. He inspired me enormously throughout my career."
"Yes, hot bath, cold bath. But that's not a myth; I did it too. He does it for the physical aspect but also for the mind, to unwind before sleeping. He didn't do it every match nor did [he do] sit-ups all day long every day, but he always maintained this level of demand."
Regarding Ronaldo's future as he steps into his fourth decade, Varane suggested that retirement doesn't seem imminent for the Al-Nassr star. He added: "He wants to be untouchable in terms of records and leave an indelible mark on football for thousands of years if possible. His major motivation at 40 is hard to analyse since he's already won everything long ago, but it's not financial.
"It's more about wanting to be extraordinary. He never mentioned age limit [in terms of retiring]. But for him, anything is possible. So when he reaches a limit, he wants to go further. I think he'll only stop when he can't anymore."