Former Chelsea forward Fabio Paim, who was once backed by Cristiano Ronaldo, has revealed what led to his downfall.
Like Ronaldo, the winger started his career with Sporting Lisbon and was tipped for big things. He was loaned to Chelsea in 2008 when Luiz Felipe Scolari was in charge but did not act as a senior.
Cristiano Ronaldo after his contract with Manchester United: “If you think I’m good, wait till you see Fabio Paim” Fabio Paim joined Chelsea in 2008 but never made the first team and ended up playing in Angola, Qatar, Malta , Lithuania and Luxembourg. https://t.co/WvMXJ7aqFN
According to GiveMeSportCristiano Ronaldo once told reporters during his time at Old Trafford:
“If you think I’m good, wait till you see Fabio Paim.”
However, Paim failed to build a successful career, he joined 19 clubs and failed to settle with any of them. Sporting were so confident in Paim that they had him on a £18,000-a-year contract at the age of 16, but that seemed to be the way to his demise.
The former Chelsea winger, now five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo has been backed for great things, told Golboesporte (via GiveMeSport):
“I spent a lot of money on cars. I like cars. I spent a lot on the ones I wanted. All of them. Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Maserati and even a Punto. Any car you can think of. If you have a lot of money you need a support system around you. I would have done it differently if I could. I knew what I was doing. I believed I had more talent than anyone else.”
“Like everyone else, I wanted to feel good, wear nice clothes, drive a nice car and behave without humility. But it’s normal, that’s what people work for, to be satisfied. On the field I did what I had to do, in to retire to my house. I spent time with people I wanted and did what I wanted. Back then, no one criticized me when I was doing well. But when I stopped playing, they started pointing fingers. I just wanted to be with my cars.”
Futebol do Sporting parado por causa da pausa para as seleções, por isso vamo-nos entreterQual of jogador em que depositavas mais confiança, mas acabou não dar em nada? Eu: Bruno Paz, 24 anos 🥲 https://t.co/blbyd3HpFq
Former Chelsea winger claims Cristiano Ronaldo is ‘out of this world’
Like Scolari at Chelsea, Paim didn’t last long at Stamford Bridge and was sent back to his parent club just four months after his arrival.
When asked about Cristiano Ronaldo’s comments nearly 20 years ago, Paim replied: (as per The star):
“He’s out of this world. There’s no comparison today. In the past, yes. At one point I could be more than him, but I didn’t have what he had, that’s the strength and the desire to be what I wanted to be.”
“He had a great work ethic and I didn’t. I had the quality, at least as much as he did, but I didn’t have the rest.”
Not as a player but as a staff member. Fabio will help with the development of youth players.
“If you think I’m good, wait till you see Fábio Paím” – Cristiano Ronaldo after arriving in Manchester.
Fabio Paim is back at Sporting. Not as a player but as a staff member. Fabio will help with the development of youth players. “If you think I’m good, wait till you see Fábio Paím” – Cristiano Ronaldo after arriving in Manchester. @Sporting_CP https://t.co/RCPp6Xgk0T
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