ronaldo: It’s business only with Benz, Bale – no tapas

ROME: For Cristiano Ronaldo, team spirit doesn’t involve sharing tapas with Real Madrid strike partners Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale.

Just like he never went to the pub with team-mates while at Manches-ter United.

Ahead of Real’s Champions League first-leg match against AS Roma, Ronaldo was asked if his relationships with Benzema and Bale have contributed to Real’s slow start in La Liga.

“When I was at Manchester winning the Champions League, with some players like (Ryan) Giggs, (Rio) Ferdinand and (Paul) Scholes our discussions were limited to ‘ Good morning’ and ‘Good night.’ But when we were on the pitch together there was total understanding,” said Ronaldo through a translator.

“I don’t need to go out for dinner with Benzema or Bale. What counts is what happens on the pitch,” added Ronaldo added.

Ronaldo is among the Spanish League’s top scorers with 21 goals, and has scored 11 in the group phase of the Champions League. But he has been criticised for his inability to score on the road lately – with his last away goal coming in November.

“I’m used to it,” the three-time FIFA World Player of the Year said. “It’s like when you always give kids everything and then when you take something away they start to cry. I’ve gotten the press and fans so used to me always scoring a lot of goals that as soon as I let up for a second, well the journalists don’t cry but they begin writing all sorts of stuff.

“Let’s just say that I would be happy to continue with this not-so-perfect form until the end of the season. If you can name one player who has scored more away goals than me since I arrived in Spain tell me who? No. There’s nobody,” Ronaldo said and then got up and walked out before his comments were even translated.