Federico Bernardeschi, the 31-year-old midfielder currently with Bologna, recently opened up about his memorable years at Juventus. He appeared on the BSMT Podcast, where he looked back at his time in Turin. Between 2017 and 2021, Bernardeschi played for the Italian giant. During those seasons, he shared the locker room and the pitch with one of football’s biggest names: Cristiano Ronaldo.
Bernardeschi made it clear that his memories of Ronaldo are sharp. He immediately described the Portuguese superstar as an "exceptional guy." On the field, Ronaldo’s talent spoke for itself; he was simply an extraordinary footballer. But it was Ronaldo’s personality off the pitch that Bernardeschi wanted to highlight. Many people might have the wrong idea, he suggested. "He is much more humble and sensitive than people might imagine," Bernardeschi shared.
Playing alongside Ronaldo came with its own set of rules, according to Bernardeschi. He explained that teammates needed to understand a crucial fact. "We simply cannot compare what he achieves with what we do," Bernardeschi stated. He emphasized that once you grasp this difference, everything becomes smooth. Ronaldo operated on his own schedule and had his unique way of approaching things. As teammates, their job was to recognize and respect that reality.
Bernardeschi pointed out that while Ronaldo was a teammate, he wasn’t just any teammate. He offered a simple, relatable image. "If you decide to go for ice cream in Turin with a friend, that’s perfectly normal," he said. "But if you go with Cristiano, the whole situation changes." The experience becomes instantly different due to his global fame. Still, Bernardeschi insisted that despite his legendary status, Ronaldo remained very approachable. "He laughs and tells jokes just like everyone else," he concluded. "He’s very down-to-earth."