Man City can't repeat Palmer mistake with brilliant Bobb

Football on TV in India: Matches to watch & live stream

Casemiro's break hasn't helped - Man Utd must move him on

Claim Your Exclusive 1xBet Promo Code 2024: 1GOALIN for ₹66,000

Spurs are about to unleash their best academy star since Kane

Ancelotti reveals how Mbappe fits into his Real Madrid team

Ronaldo backed to follow Messi to MLS amid US club takeover plan

New club & partner for Mbappe? Real star gets cosy with model

‘Horsecrap!’ - Messi injury saga branded ‘embarrassing’

Transfers LIVE: Calafiori flies to London for Arsenal medical

Ederson hits back at claims he was 'affected' by Ortega praise

Who needs Messi?! Miami eyeing MLS glory despite Copa absence

Teenager invaded UCL final pitch in prank to win £300,000

Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>French defender moved to Spain in 2011</li><li>Would not be intimidated by anybody</li><li>Landed major silverware alongside CR7</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

'No need to be shy'- Raphael Varane reveals how he earned Cristiano Ronaldo's respect after joining Real Madrid

World Cup winner Varane completed a dream transfer to Real Madrid in the summer of 2011. Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo had already been at Santiago Bernabeu for a couple of years by that point and was very much the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/beckham-ronaldo-zidane-who-best-galacticos-real-madrid-coach/blt8d40d983a0f912e3" target="_blank">brightest light in Madrid’s galaxy of stars</a>.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Varane could have been forgiven for feeling a little overawed in such illustrious company, but the classy centre-half merely made a point of<a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/varane-talks-up-ronaldo-benefit-at-man-utd--hopes-to-recreate-ramos-partnership-with-maguire/18r429fe6ishw1ng818yk5oft0" target="_blank"> making Ronaldo aware of who he was</a> and that he would not be intimated by anybody.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Quizzed by <a href="https://twitter.com/CanalplusFoot/status/1760604404317614129 " target="_blank">Canal+</a> on whether one of his first interactions with Ronaldo saw him respond with “I’m Rapha” after being referred to as “’Varane” by CR7, the current Manchester United star said: “Yes it’s true, I think that on the field there is no need to be shy. I am someone who is quite reserved outside but on the field you have to make your own place and be respected.”

WHAT VARANE SAID ABOUT RONALDO

That is a mindset that Ronaldo can get behind, as someone who has <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/ronaldo-six-pack-competition-new-training-partner-cristiano-jr-al-nassr-superstar-gym/blt7d2d5f0c982e99fd" target="_blank">spent his entire career pursuing perfection</a>. Varane shares a similar desire to win, but added on how even the very best in the business need to learn how to turn energy levels on and off. He added: “That's the challenge for great teams, to succeed in winning while exerting less energy on the pitch. You can't put your full energy into everything when there are games every three days. You can't run a marathon every day. I had periods where we played Clasico, Champions League, Clasico - in a week you feel like you've lived an entire life!”

DID YOU KNOW?

Varane won plenty alongside Ronaldo in Spain, including four Champions League crowns, and the now 30-year-old defender has seen <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/cristiano-ronaldo-reunion-raphael-varane-mega-deal-saudi-pro-league-al-nassr-man-utd/bltb799236e1494a543" target="_blank">a reunion with the Portuguese speculated on at Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Nassr</a>. As thing stand, Premier League giants at Old Trafford have put <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/raphael-varane-unimpressed-lack-stability-man-utd-being-forced-out-january-transfer-rumours/blt09fd88aadca68f18" target="_blank">no extension in place for a contract that is due to expire this summer</a>.

WHAT NEXT FOR VARANE?

'No need to be shy'- Raphael Varane reveals how he earned Cristiano Ronaldo's respect after joining Real Madrid | Goal.com India

Raphael Varane has revealed how he earned Cristiano Ronaldo’s respect, with the Frenchman saying there is “no need to be shy” around the Portuguese.