Cristiano Ronaldo isn't just helping new club Al-Nassr out with his goal-laden performances on the pitch, but also influencing changes behind the scenes.
The 38-year-old megastar - renowned for his relentless dedication on the training ground and at home - has raised the game at Al-Nassr with five strikes in as many games for the club, while also inspiring his team-mates to improve their diets and train more intensely as they challenge for the Saudi Pro League title. That's according to someone truly in the know, Al-Nassr's nutritionist.
Echoing how Ronaldo's presence at Manchester United last season prompted his former team-mates to start eating healthier upon his return to Old Trafford, Jose Blesa has lifted the lid on the Portuguese striker's impact in Riyadh. Speaking to Spanish outlet Ideal, Blesa explained: "I was uncertain, like everyone else, about what it was going to be like to work with him and if the club was going to change a lot, but I haven't found a more professional footballer than him.
"Every conversation with him is a learning curve. We met and talked about his diet, about how he understands the importance of this and rest for performance. He wears two rest metres: the ring and the bracelet. He is the first to arrive at training and the last to leave. Dealing with him is wonderful."
Appreciative of Ronaldo's influence, Blesa added: "Cristiano helps me a lot, because we can no longer teach him anything, but he creates a school around him. The rest of the players do what he does because everything he does is wonderful to improve his performance.
"Since he has been here, all the players have trained more intensely and followed a stricter diet. I have not seen a club like this in which the players improve practically 90 per cent in their body composition every time I see them: they have less fat, more muscle and they do all the exercises at their fingertips. It is a luxury to work there."
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It was 18 months ago, shortly after the Portugal captain made his triumphant return to Manchester, that team-mate Lee Grant hilariously revealed how Ronaldo's healthy habits had rubbed off on the United squad. "To give you one instance of the impact he is having on the group, this was Friday night in the hotel," Grant began to TalkSPORT.
"So, as you guys will be aware, you finish your dinner and usually on a Friday night you've got some cheat stuff out. You've got some apple crumble and custard or you've got a bit of brownie and cream. I tell you now, not one player touched the apple crumble and custard, not one player went up for that brownie because everybody was sat down.
"One of the lads said to me, 'What has Cristiano got on his plate?' Obviously it is the cleanest, most healthy plate you can imagine. I'll tell you one of his plates - he had several. One of them was quinoa, avocado and a couple of boiled eggs. This guy is in incredible shape."
