Former and Italy striker Antonio Cassano believes owes much of his success at the Bernabeu to Karim Benzema.
The forward spent nine years in the Spanish capital between 2009 and 2018 and for most of that time lined up alongside Benzema up front.
The duo enjoyed a fruitful relationship with Ronaldo scoring over 300 goals for the club as Benzema assisted the Portuguese 47 times through his link-up play.
But Cassano, who played at Madrid for two years from 2006 to 2008, believes Ronaldo’s record in Spain would not be as impressive if it wasn’t for Benzema’s creative qualities.
Speaking to Bobo TV, he said: ‘Cristiano Ronaldo has to pray in the morning and say, “Thank you, Benzema, that you played with me.” Benzema, this year and last year, has scored 50 goals and assists this year and last year over 30 goals.
‘Ronaldo scores and will always score, but he’s a different player; Benzema is a goalscoring centre forward. But he’s also Zidane, he’s a nine, ten and a nine-and-a-half.’
Since Ronaldo left Madrid four years ago Benzema has performed at an extremely high level for los Blancos and has been the leading force in the club’s run to the last eight of the Champions League this season.
The 34-year-old hit back-to-back hat-tricks in Europe’s top competition – against PSG in the last-16 and at Chelsea in the first leg of their quarter-final – which has given Madrid a great chance of reaching the semi-finals.
Speaking this week, manager Carlo Ancelotti conceded that his side are heavily reliant on Benzema, who has scored 37 goals this season, and praised the Frenchman’s attributes.
‘Karim is a modern forward and (does) what is required of strikers,’ he said. ‘Everything, including defensive work. He is the perfect representation of what a centre forward should be in today’s football.’
While Benzema has been thriving in the latter stages of his career, Ronaldo is enduring one of his worst goalscoring campaigns in recent seasons, with the Portuguese star having netted just 18 goals this season – some way off the 36 he scored for Juventus last term.
Ronaldo, who was involved in a confrontation with a fan at Everton at the weekend, is also faced with the prospect of playing in Europe’s second tier competition – the Europa League – next season as United sit a hefty six points behind fourth placed Tottenham in the Premier League.
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