In an interview with MARCA, the Brazil international lifts the lid on his time at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Did you feel as if you were treated badly by Real Madrid? "No, at Real Madrid the pressure you're put under from the press is immense, and it's the same from the fans. They boo the players and even at times Cristiano Ronaldo is on the receiving end. When you consider how well he is playing, he's making history, it is incredible that he gets booed. The fans have also booed Iker Casillas, Zidane and Ronaldo [Nazário] in the past, it's part of the club's culture and it's very difficult to change. Being at Real Madrid made me develop a thicker skin".

What about your relationship with José Mourinho? "I always acted very professionally and respected the decisions he made. My relationship with him wasn't bad. It's true that there were certain things that I didn't agree with, but I had no choice but to keep on working hard, and that's just what I did. And you know what? For me, it was rewarding to hear what he said about me when we both left the club. When he was asked about me, he said that I was a top professional".

Looking back, how do you reflect on your Ballon d'Or win? "Ronaldinho, Cristiano, Messi and myself are the only Ballon d'Or winners who are still playing. It fills me with pride to stand alongside these great players, and to be the last player to have won the award before Messi and Ronaldo. You could say that I was the last Ballon d'Or winner to have been born on this planet".