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Jorge Valdano: 'Cristiano Ronaldo playing under protest'

Former Real Madrid sporting director Jorge Valdano does not think that Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale can play together in the same forward line.

Former Real Madrid sporting director Jorge Valdano has claimed that Cristiano Ronaldo is "not comfortable" in the Los Blancos team when Gareth Bale is selected.

Bale has been struggling with a calf problem this season, but returned to the starting XI for Sunday's La Liga clash against Sevilla.

The Welshman's return saw Ronaldo moved into a more central position, and the 30-year-old struggled to make his mark for long spells.

Valdano has claimed that "there's less pressing" when Ronaldo and Bale both play, which unbalances the team as a whole.

"[Ronaldo is] not comfortable. He prefers playing on the left, as he always has," he told Cadena SER. "It's difficult to determine if it's because he isn't scoring or it's because of the position he's playing, but he's not enjoying his game. He's playing under protest.

"They recovered the ball quickly and were strong, but of course, with Ronaldo and [Gareth] Bale [both playing], there's less pressing. The team have lost their discipline to stop their opponents' attacks in their own half."

Ronaldo has scored eight league goals this season, but five of those came in one match.

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2Barcelona29197360342664
3GironaGirona29195559342562
4Athletic Bilbao29168550262456
5Atletico MadridAtletico29174854342055
6Real Sociedad291210742311146
7Real BetisBetis29101273433142
8Valencia28117103232040
9Villarreal29108114751-438
10Getafe2991193742-538
11Las PalmasLas Palmas29107122932-337
12Osasuna29106133343-1036
13AlavesAlaves2988132635-932
14Mallorca29612112535-1030
15Rayo Vallecano29611122538-1329
16Sevilla29610133644-828
17Celta Vigo2969143244-1227
18CadizCadiz29313132040-2022
19Granada2828183058-2814
20Almeria29110182857-2913


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