Super agent Jorge Mendes insists he and Cristiano Ronaldo remain close despite their post-Christmas split.

Ronaldo ended their professional relationship after Mendes failed to find him a European club after his axing by Manchester United. The Portuguese eventually signed for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia.

But Mendes said, "Our personal relationship continues to be close, a great personal relationship.

"How do I see this phase of his life? Cristiano will always be in my heart.

"He is a special player and a special person for me. If I, a few years ago, thought that I could have a player with half the value of Cristiano, I would sign for less! And all of us Portuguese should be proud to have had and still have a player like him.

"I've always said it and I'll say it all my life: he was and is the best player in the entire history of world football! I don't have the slightest doubt, even compared to others."

Mendes went to say: "You have to see what he managed to do. Football is goals! There's a lot of strength there and a lot of work too.

"He's an example for young people and he's done everything a great professional would have to do... because he's the best of them all! But it is also true that he was a virtuous player when he was young: you were talking about Ronaldinho Gaucho and Messi, but when he was young, Cristiano was also virtuous!

"And strong in the 'one on one', and explosive! Cristiano has turned into a machine! Many people never really thought about that growth process that led him, in fact, to be the best in history. And for me, he will always be the best in history."