Al Nassr manager Luis Castro revealed the mental state Cristiano Ronaldo was in when he was first signed the club.
After the Portuguese's fairy-tale return to Manchester United descended into a nightmare, he joined the Saudi Pro League side in January 2023 but arrived in some sadness, according to the club's boss.
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Ronaldo is said to have endured a difficult second season at Old Trafford after re-joining the side in 2021. He saw a decline in the amount of minutes he spent on the pitch and was reported to have fallen out with United boss Erik ten Hag.
Castro said that much focus was placed on getting the 38-year-old to the point of enjoying his football again.
"I often say that when your face doesn't laugh, your feet don't laugh either. Cristiano was in a moment of some sadness, due to some events in his personal and professional life," he divulged in an interview with RECORD via Sportskeeda
"There was this intention of giving him back his joy, through training, games. This was achieved. He responded very naturally to what was asked of him and today he is once again a world reference, as he always was. For what he plays and for who he is, on and off the field."
The Portuguese tactician also spoke about what Ronaldo offers as captain of the team, and his attitude as a professional.
"The team captain must be a reference in any dressing room in the world. And when the captain is the best player in the world, his presence and leadership become even stronger.
"He is a very balanced person. He balances himself and his teammates. He is an example of rigor, discipline and ambition, in short, everything a player should have. He is a reference for all of them. You don't notice any difference. Cristiano is one of them."