Former LaLiga forward Walter Pandiani has branded Cristiano Ronaldo 'arrogant' and claimed his conduct during their infamous clash in January 2011 'left a lot to be desired.'
Ronaldo’s nine-year stay in Spain brought astonishing success, with the Portugal international winning four Champions League titles and two LaLiga crowns while netting a record-breaking 450 goals in just 438 appearances.
To many, it was an era that confirmed his place among football’s all-time greats.
**ARE YOU READING THIS ON OUR APP? DOWNLOAD NOW FOR THE BEST GB NEWS EXPERIENCE**
Yet for those who faced him on the pitch, his brilliance was sometimes accompanied by controversy.
Former LaLiga forward Walter Pandiani has branded Cristiano Ronaldo 'arrogant' and claimed his conduct during their infamous clash in January 2011 'left a lot to be desired
|GETTY
One of the most talked-about flashpoints came in January 2011 when Real Madrid were stunned 1-0 away at Osasuna.
Pandiani, then leading the line for the hosts, confronted Ronaldo after a foul on team-mate Javier Camuñas. What followed spilled from the pitch to the tunnel.
Speaking to AS earlier this week as Osasuna prepared to face Madrid once more, Pandiani recalled the heated afternoon and accused Ronaldo of being wound up long before kick-off.
“The crowd there is very aggressive, and they were whistling and insulting him from the moment he came out to warm up,” he explained.
JUST IN: Newcastle hit back at Alexander Isak and take aim at Liverpool in latest twist to ongoing saga
“That p****d him off, and he was practicing free kicks, shooting at people. That’s why he started the match so heated.”
The Uruguayan then described the moment things escalated.
“During a foul against Real Madrid, Cristiano pushed my team-mate Camuñas, and I went to defend him," he continued.
"I pushed him, and he asked me who I was and how much I was paid.
**SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE DAILY GB NEWS SPORTS NEWSLETTER HERE**
Cristiano Ronaldo goaded Walter Pandiani about his salary during his time as a Real Madrid player
|GETTY
"The brawl continued in the changing room tunnel with him and Sergio Ramos.
"I was very angry, and so were they.”
Looking back, Pandiani admitted he was unimpressed by Ronaldo’s attitude despite his unmatched quality in front of goal.
“I didn’t like his attitude at all. He was an arrogant guy. He was tremendous as a goalscorer, but his behaviour left a lot to be desired,” he stated.
The fallout extended beyond the pitch, with then-Real boss Jose Mourinho dismissing Pandiani’s complaints as an attempt to seek publicity.
The forward, however, insists the confrontation was far from contrived.
“It was very unpleasant,” he reflected.
The defeat proved costly for Real that season, as Barcelona pipped them to the title by four points.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
Cristiano Ronaldo is still going strong at the age of 40
| GETTYFor Pandiani, who scored 82 goals across 279 LaLiga games and lifted the Copa del Rey with three different clubs, it remains one of the defining anecdotes of his career.
As for Ronaldo, the 40-year-old is still going strong with Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr.