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PARIS. — Lionel Messi feels Cristiano Ronaldo chose a club he was familiar with when he decided to return to Manchester United.

Both Messi and Ronaldo, who have a combined 11 Ballons d’Or between them, made moves as FC Barcelona and Juventus lost their leading stars.

Since the duo’s transfers in August, Messi has helped Paris Saint-Germain climb to the top of the Ligue 1 table.

Ronaldo’s nine goals in 13 matches have spared the Red Devils’ blushes on a number of occasions this season. The Argentine has now praised the Portuguese forward for his performances so far in his second homecoming at Old Trafford.

“United are a very strong team with great players. Cristiano already knew the club, but that was at another stage and now he has adapted in an impressive way,” Messi said in an exclusive interview with Marca.

“From the beginning, he has scored goals as always and had no problems adapting.

‘’In the Premier League, it is not as good as we all thought, but it is a very difficult and even competition in which things take a lot of turns.

“After December it changes a lot and anything can happen.”

The 34-year-old was also asked if he missed competing against the former Real Madrid attacker on a regular basis in La Liga.

“It’s been a long time since we stopped competing in the same league,” he answered.

“We competed individually and as a team for the same goals. It was a very beautiful stage for us and also for the people because they enjoyed it very much.

“It is a beautiful memory that will remain in the history of football.” — Marca