SERGIO Ramos understands why Real Madrid fans have been whistling Cristiano Ronaldo this season but has urged his team-mate not to get downhearted and to instead use the criticism as motivation to improve.
The Portugal international has been jeered on more than one occasion this term, most notably when Madrid struggled to find their best form during the first half of the season.
But Ramos has told Ronaldo not to let the jibes affect him, though, as he is not the first high-profile name to be subjected to scorn from the Santiago Bernabeu faithful.
“I can understand that people whistle Cristiano. Why not? They have also whistled me, they whistled Manolo Sanchis, [Jose Antonio] Camacho, [the Brazilian] Ronaldo, [Zinedine] Zidane. The fans have whistled everyone,” Ramos told COPE.
“There is always a reason for it when you get this kind of attention from the fans. You should always look at the positive side of things. The fans might think you can do a bit more and their whistles can lead to a reaction, to help you get the best out of yourself. And then everybody is happy again.