Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas has said that his teammate Cristiano Ronaldo “hurts” when he is whistled by his own team’s supporters, however the club’s record-top scorer does still “love all the fans “at the Bernabeu.
Ronaldo has been criticised at the Bernabeu on and off over recent years, even as he became Madrid’s record all-time scorer and helped the team win two Champions League trophies in the last three years.
There were more whistles and boos after some poor early touches in Sunday’s 3-0 La Liga win at home to Real Sociedad, with video appearing to show the Portugal captain responding by mouthing an offensive phrase in the direction of the stands. He then provided an assist and goal as Zinedine Zidane’s side stretched their lead at the top of the title.
Speaking on radio show El Larguero, Costa Rica international Navas said: “What Cristiano tells us, and what he says to [Sergio] Ramos, the skipper, is that he loves all the fans
“It hurts him that they whistle him, but he knows the [majority of the] fans support him. He always tries to help the team with goals. He is committed to this club and wants to win trophies, as we all do, to make our fans happy.”
Whistles for stars at the Bernabeu are not new, with club legend Alfredo Di Stefano, current coach Zinedine Zidane and long-serving club captain Iker Casillas all on the receiving end of abuse from the stands at various times in their playing careers.
“These things happen,” Navas said. “I was new and it took me by surprise [at first]. In the end the team is much stronger when the players and fans are united. When the fans support us it gives us a boost. That is what we want.”
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