Former Atletico Madrid and Portugal star Maniche has urged Cristiano Ronaldo to think long and hard about quitting Real Madrid.

Maniche believes Ronaldo should stay in Madrid, despite his frustrations over new contract demands.

Maniche told AS: "I think Cristiano should protect himself a little more, but he knows what he is doing. As a friend of his, I want the best for him and to enjoy football to the fullest.

"Every year he exceeds records and despite this there are many people who do not love him. Everything he has done in Madrid is impossible to better."

The former midfielder continued: "If you want to go to another country because you are going to find more motivations, maybe it's good that you do it. When you have won everything in a club, sometimes it is good to change.

"But I also say that I made a major mistake in my career when I was at Atlético. I was happy in that club and I forgot that that was the most important thing and I was wrong to leave because of a coach.

"If that coach was not there, I would have stayed because I was happy with the fans, with my teammates, with the club, in the city ... Cristiano has the advantage of being in a great club for which he has done everything. If he is willing to change, only he knows it."