Manchester United rebel Cristiano Ronaldo has opened up on his chat with Tom Brady that took place earlier this year, when the NFL star made a U-turn over his retirement.
Brady initially retired at the end of last season before going back on his decision, and instead decided to commit his 23rd NFL campaign and lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers once again. At the end of the last NFL season, Brady travelled to Manchester to watch United beat Tottenham 3-2, and the legendary figures from each sport met.
The NFL legend went from being retired to fully committed to another season, and now Brady has even teased that he may have many years left in the game despite being 45. Ronaldo is also looking to play until the age of 40 by his own admission, and has gone into more detail on their conversation.
Brady picked a great time to head to Old Trafford back in March, as he was in attendance to see United win 3-2 - and Ronaldo scored a hat-trick. The pair met and spoke after the game, and Ronaldo was asked about why Brady decided to continue in the NFL by Piers Morgan.
Speaking on Morgan's Uncensored, Ronaldo explained: "Psychology, see? I thought he took the decision a few weeks before. We spoke in general. He's a very very smart guy, he knows a lot about football.
"We had a nice conversation. He gave me good energy. When you have another GOAT, it's energy. It's all about energy. When you have good energy around you, I can do interesting things."
At the time fans speculated that it may have even been Ronaldo that talked Brady out of retirement, but the Buccaneers quarterback is still yet to confirm whether that's true. But upon making the decision, Brady did explain his reasons on Twitter back in March.
"These past two months I’ve realised my place is still on the field and not in the stands," Brady wrote on Twitter. "That time will come. But it’s not now.
"I love my teammates, and I love my supportive family. They make it all possible. I’m coming back for my 23rd season in Tampa. Unfinished business."
The Buccaneers are 5-5 for the season after a recent turnaround has revived their form, and now they could be set for yet another play-off run. One thing that's for sure, Brady will not want to end his historic career after a poor season, but it sounds like he has no immediate plans to retire regardless.
"I said that there's no immediate retirement in my future. There was a retirement in the past, but I moved on from that," Brady said on his 'Let's Go' podcast, via Pro Football Talk. "I made a commitment to this team and I love this team and I love this organisation.
"I told them in March I was playing and I've never quit on anything in my life. And I know a bunch of teammates that we all count on one another to be at our best and to work hard and to put the team first."
