Football
Ben Gladwell, Italy correspondent 6y

Cristiano Ronaldo is 'selfish, I'd never want him in my team' - Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic has branded Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo "selfish" and said he would never pick him in his team.

Dalic was asked his opinion on Ronaldo's absence when Luka Modric was named UEFA's Player of the Year in Monaco last Thursday, and he said it just vindicated his opinion of the Portuguese captain.

"It only proves what I keep saying: Ronaldo is selfish and I'd never want him in my team," he told Sportske Novosti. "He is the kind of player that thinks 'no matter if we lose, the only thing that matters is that I score a goal!'

"Modric, on the other hand, is a brilliant person and always willing to help others, starting with his teammates."

Meanwhile, Dalic revealed how hard it had been for Mario Mandzukic to inform him he was quitting international football.

"Mandzukic called me one evening and we chatted for a long time about this and that... and the next morning he calls me again," Dalic said. "So I think 'Why is he calling me now, we spoke last night?!'

"It is then that he announced his decision to quit. Can you imagine, such a fighter, warrior, and he didn't have the strength to tell me he will not play for Croatia anymore? That's how hard it was for him."

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