Jude Bellingham has seen Cristiano Ronaldo used as an example of why top players need a "big ego", although CR7 has been branded "embarrassing".
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Ronaldo reacted angrily to Duran dismissalBellingham saw red for La Liga referee jibeElite players always have that edge about themFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The Portuguese superstar has always had unwavering belief in his own ability and demands nothing but the best each and every time that he steps onto the field. He has billed himself as football’s GOAT, with his game considered to be more "complete" than other all-time greats such as Lionel Messi and Pele.
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Ronaldo is still going strong at 40 years of age with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, with passion continuing to burn bright there. He has never been a good loser, which has helped to carry him to the very top of the game, but has often stood accused of unnecessary displays of petulance when things do not go his way.
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That was the case again during an outing against Al-Ettifaq, as Al-Nassr suffered a dramatic 3-2 defeat and saw new big-money signing Jhon Duran sent off in the closing stages. Ronaldo did not take kindly to seeing his team-mate dismissed.
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World Cup-winning former Arsenal and Barcelona star Emmanuel Petit has told of Ronaldo’s behaviour and why Real Madrid midfielder Bellingham – who recently saw red for telling a referee in La Liga to "f*ck off" – needs to be cut from similar cloth: "As with Jude Bellingham, big players have big egos.
"You just have to look at Cristiano Ronaldo’s reaction to the referee when Jhon Duran was sent off in Saudi Arabia, he was complaining so much that it was even embarrassing to watch on television. The referee probably realised that Ronaldo was an ambassador for the division and thought to himself, I’d be taking a big risk here by sending him off too.
"But great players have big egos, their emotions can go over the top and it can lead them to react in a bad way. I saw that so many times when I was a player. The character of big stars can be huge.
"He will learn from that, but will he change? I don't think so. This is how he is, it’s too late for him to change. He has an arrogance on the pitch with the referee, with his opponents and even his team-mates. But top players all have that and he will help Real Madrid win many more trophies."