Interview MARCA get the verdict of the Mexican

As a former Real Madrid forward, Hugo Sanchez believes that current Los Blancos star Cristiano Ronaldo has already outshone his teammates of years gone by, despite still having plenty of time to continue impressing at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.

Sanchez played for the club during the 1980s and 1990s, during a seven-year stint in the Spanish capital, and now lives with his family in San Diego in the United States of America. MARCA caught up with him.

Zidane was on the front of MARCA yesterday as the 'Man of the Year 2016' - how do you see it from afar?

"I have liked his way of carrying the team forward, because he has shown that with wisdom and ability, you can take the best club in the world to their highest level. We have already seen others who wanted to do that! And he has done it without any experience in the first division, which is surprising. But also he has proven one of my own theories: with leadership, conviction and a good relationship with the players, it is possible to succeed. In fact, I did the same with Pumas."

The figures of Ronaldo keep on surprising, is he one of the few who has surpassed your old teammates in Madrid?

"Yes, I am pleased it was him, and I also like the progress that he has made with players being protected, in terms of how many times he gets rough treatment, for example. The best are careful and this is good. He is protected a lot. There are a lot of cameras which can reveal any physicality or violence. In the past, after the ball went one way opponents would be clattering you, and nobody found out."

Do you think that in the current footballing world, you would have scored double the amount of goals?

"I don't like to compare, it is a lack of respect to other generations, both before and after me. I will only say one thing: the best goalscorers scored goals whenever, this I am sure of. Paco Gento, Alfredo Di Stefano, Raul, Cristiano... they always would succeed."

Who is the best goalscorer in the history of the club?

"That's a complicated one. You would have to weigh up the time that each one spent at the club. For example, I am not the highest goalscorer in the history of Mexico [it is Borgetti and Chicharito]. But it is because I didn't play as many games, as I was in Europe! But yes, I will answer your previous question again - I see the best as Di Stefano, Ferenc Puskas, Raul, Ronaldo... but, for example, Santillana was never a top goalscorer but he scored a lot of times. Like Zamorano did. It is true that later Cristiano has come along and he has surpassed all of us. He will continue scoring and be the clear number one."

Ronaldo is playing in more central positions. Do you believe that he is going to finish as a central striker, scoring with just a touch?

"He can play in any of the three positions: right, left, or as a front man. In any case, I believe that you always need a striker with a certain freedom, and you feed him, as I did in the past with Emilio Butragueno. Obviously, physical attributes diminish, but you get more wisdom and intuition with regard to where the ball will end up. And here is where intelligence comes into it, and Cristiano has this. In the area, not only one player is going to mark him, but rather two or three, which is where it gets complicated. He will continue scoring."

What do you think about the great goalscoring capacity of Sergio Ramos?

"He has conviction. This is what impresses me most about Sergio. He knows where they are going to put it, he goes for the ball, and he scores. This can't be done by anyone - it is difficult. So is his intuition and inspiration to do it. And he has shown to his teammates that everything ends in a goal, he is like a basketball player. This, mixed with his ability to jump high off the ground, is an explosive cocktail. But he has trained for this, right? He is at the level of Zamorano, Santilla, Ronaldo and now Gareth Bale."

You were controversial on the pitch. Would you have been in favour or against video refereeing?

"In favour, without doubt, for the kicks that they used to give us. Technology protects those who can put on a show."

Do you think that Alvaro Morata is at the level that you always said Karim Benzema to be?

"Yes, he has the qualities to compete for his place. I believe that you can't leave any player thinking that their position in the side is guaranteed. They have to always think that there is somebody behind them to keep them fighting."

What do you miss most now at Real Madrid, compared to when you were there?

"I am not in the dressing room to be able to decide on this. Now, they are not as close with the fans, before they would see us train and ask us for autographs when we left... I spent 45 minutes every day signing them. Now, no. But both before and currently, something has stayed the same: Real Madrid have continuing being the biggest club in the world.

And what would Atletico fans have said when you spent those days in Madrid?

"Some are still resentful and haven't forgiven me, but I hope that time will help to ease that anger. From my end, not so much remains... [smiles]."