Cristiano Ronaldo 's diet is once again causing headlines as former Portugal teammate Jose Fonte has explained how the Manchester United star still has cheat meals from time to time.
International football's record goal-scorer is famously strict when it comes to his diet and workout regimes, ensuring his body is operating at peak physical fitness at all times to prolong his illustrious playing career.
His triumphant return to Old Trafford after 12 years away has gone exactly how many had expected, with Ronaldo among the goals from the off - notching five goals in six games after calling time on his Juventus career this summer.
A brace against Newcastle on his debut has been followed up with another Premier League goal against West Ham and two in two in the Champions League group stage against BSC Young Boys and Villarreal respectively.
Ronaldo's dedication to maintaining his fitness is one of his strongest attributes, allowing the forward to play well into his 30's.
Fonte has told talkSPORT that the 36-year-old is a role model to his teammates, who will often look to him and copy his dietary habits.
"Obviously, as a rule, he eats nice and clean, you know the nice quinoas and all this healthy stuff… A lot of eggs, sweet potatoes, the broccoli, he’s into that," Fonte explained.
"We always have a look at what he’s eating and what he’s doing, you know he’s the best and you want to replicate what he’s doing because he must be doing something right."
The former Southampton central defender did go on to reveal how Ronaldo is not afraid to pause his diet to enjoy steak, chips and fried eggs after a game.
"I’ve seen him eating a little bit of everything," Fonte added.
Ronaldo is also a known fan of traditional Portuguese dish balcalhau - made up of dried and salted cod fish typically served with potatoes, onions, hard boiled eggs, olives and olive oil.
Fonte did offer his fellow countryman somewhat of an excuse for enjoying 'junk' food every now and then, claiming that the meals provided for the national side are 'just incredible.'
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Fonte's comments come just a month after United back-up 'keeper Lee Grant revealed the rest of the Red Devils squad were already copying Ronaldo when it came to what they were eating.
"Not one player touched the apple crumble and custard, not one player went up for that brownie because everybody was sat down and one of the lads said to me, 'What has Cristiano got on his plate?'
"So we were having a little goosey gander at what he has got and obviously it is the cleanest, most healthy plate you can imagine."
