Fabio Coentrao has slammed pundits being critical of released Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo.

Coentrao played with Ronaldo with Real Madrid and Portugal.

He told Relevo, "It's a shame what's happened. Ronaldo, who has been doing what he's been doing all his career... It's very ugly what's going on with him. A shame. People start talking about him, that he gets along with his teammates and things are misunderstood. It's horrible, I know how he is. I lived with him for many years and he doesn't have to tell me how things are are: I know.

"It's impossible that Ronaldo doesn't get along with Bruno (Fernandes) or any other player. He's a fantastic person.

"He just wants to play football. If there's anyone who doesn't need football to live anymore, it's him. People have to wash their mouths before talking about him.

"Real Madrid has (Karim) Benzema who scores 40 goals, but they know that if Cristiano were there he would have scored 60. You know, I know and anyone who knows a little about football knows. Cristiano would score as many goals as he wanted at Real Madrid.

"In Manchester things did not go well for him because the people there were bothering him. A player needs tranquility for things to go well for him.

"There are many players who spoke ill of him and do not reach the soles of his shoes. At the World Cup he will shut up many mouths. He has a lot to offer, I know what he is capable of.

"There are former players who were s*** and talk about Ronaldo as if they had been something. They don't have to talk like that."