Former Juventus winger Douglas Costa has offered a warm, personal account of playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo in Turin, describing the Portuguese superstar as a player who made life remarkably simple for his teammates despite his global stature, even as questions continue to swirl over Ronaldo's future role with the national team.

Speaking to Tuttosport, Costa reflected on nearly two years sharing a dressing room with the five-time Ballon d'Or winner, explaining that Ronaldo had already spent close to fifteen years as a guaranteed source of goals by the time they played together, someone who joked easily off the pitch but became a machine, and someone who felt fortunate to have shared time with.

Costa also detailed the circumstances behind his own 2017 move to Juventus from Bayern Munich, recalling that Juventus officials Andrea Agnelli and Fabio Paratici made contact shortly after a Champions League meeting between the two clubs, while Inter Milan were also showing interest at the time. He credited his adaptation to Italian football to Massimiliano Allegri, who pushed him to remain switched on and consistently focused in order to earn a regular starting role.

Now playing in the UAE with Al-Ittifaq, Costa's reflections arrive at a notable moment for Ronaldo, who continues playing on with Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League but managed just three goals for Portugal at this summer's World Cup before a painful round of 16 exit. With Jorge Jesus now overseeing a new era for the national team, questions have grown louder over whether Ronaldo's international role should be reduced as Portugal looks ahead to the next European Championship.