'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#3 Bernardo Silva
Cristiano Ronaldo's compatriot Bernardo Silva has enjoyed a fairly successful stint at Manchester City since moving to the Premier League club in the summer of 2017.
Trending
The 26-year-old has been a key player under Pep Guardiola, winning three league titles in four years and reaching the Champions League final.
A year after Silva moved to City, Ronaldo reportedly asked his then club Real Madrid to bring in his younger compatriot. With Isco expected to leave that summer owing to a lack of game time, the Portugal captain thought that Silva would 'seamlessly' fit into the side.
As things turned out, Ronaldo would leave Madrid that summer, and the Merengues also didn't make a move for Silva to bolster their midfield.
Nevertheless, Silva, who has played a lot of games for Portugal with Ronaldo, calls the latter his idol.
It remains to be seen if the duo will turn out for the same club team any time soon, though.
#2 Sergej Milinkovic-Savic
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has been a steady performer for Lazio over the years, racking up 47 goals and 39 assists in nearly 250 games in all competitions.
Shortly after arriving at Juventus in the summer of 2018, Ronaldo recognized that the Bianconeri lacked a world-class midfielder who could make a difference, especially in Europe.
In this regard, Ronaldo reportedly asked his new club to bring in Milinkovic-Savic.
But with the Serbian valued at more than €100 million by Lazio, Juventus didn't make an approach for Milinkovic-Savic, even though he has been on their radar for a while.
#1 Karim Benzema
For much of Cristiano Ronaldo's nine-season stint at Real Madrid, Karim Benzema largely lived under the shadow of the prolific Portuguese.
Nevertheless, the Frenchman has been a consistent goalscorer for the Spanish giants, coming up with key goals at critical moments of games.
Recognizing the ability of his former team-mate, Ronaldo reportedly asked Juventus to bring in Benzema after winning a second consecutive Scudetto.
Incidentally, Benzema had played a key role in Real Madrid winning their first La Liga title in three years. Los Blancos were unlikely to let him go even if Juventus had made a formal offer for the Frenchman.
The two former teammates most recently met at Euro 2020, albeit on opposite sides of the field, as France and Portugal played out a thrilling 2-2 draw.
