Former Barcelona and Juventus star Dani Alves has opened up about the scuffle that took place between himself and Cristiano Ronaldo at the Ballon d'Or awards.
Alves and Ronaldo had been rivals for years due to their allegiance to Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively, with the two often facing each other in El Clasico.
Alves: Why Ronaldo Is My Toughest Opponent
The Brazilian full-back has now revealed his admiration for the five-time Ballon d'Or, something he was unable to do during his time at the Camp Nou.
"I love Cristiano. Now that we are no longer at Barca and Madrid I can speak, because it always seemed like I couldn't.
"Cristiano exemplifies, for all of us who don't have that much quality, that with hard work you can also compete against the best.
"I respect him a lot and I had the opportunity to tell him.
"There came a time because of the rivalry that I went up to greet him and he didn't greet me.
"There was a controversy that never came out, but in the Ballon d'Or dressing room we had a 'scuffle'.
"I greeted everyone and he didn't greet me because of what Barca-Madrid was generating outside."
'How can I not respect a guy who got everything based on work?
"I identify with him, because everything I did in my life was based on that."
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