• e-mail

Rafa Benitez has called Cristiano Ronaldo 'Real Madrid’s most important player' but urged him to use his gifts for the good of the team and not just for personal glory.

Benitez was asked who was Real Madrid’s version of Spain Basketball captain Pau Gasol after Gasol scored a record 40 points in the European Championship semi-final against France to put the Spanish in the final.

He said: ‘Cristiano is our Gasol. He is our best player but what I want is that the most important player plays to help the team. Spain reached the final because the team played well and because the player who makes the difference played for the team.’

Scroll down for video 

Rafa Benitez called Cristiano Ronaldo 'Real Madrid’s most important player' but wants him to play for the team

Madrid boss Benitez wants Ronaldo to use his gifts for the good of the team and not just for personal glory

Benitez was asked who was Madrid’s Pau Gasol after he scored 40 points against France in the basketball

The comment comes after Benitez surprised Real Madrid supporters by saying Ronaldo had been ‘one of the best’ players he had ever coached. Early in the season he also named Ronaldo among the best in the world only later correcting his stance and saying he believed his player was the world's best.

For the moment the former Liverpool manager, who didn’t always see eye to eye with Steven Gerrard in his time on Merseyside, seems to be getting the best out of his talisman. 

Ronaldo joins in Real Madrid training ahead of this weekend's La Liga clash against Granada at home

Real Madrid attacker Ronaldo pulls a funny face as he trains with his team-mates on Friday afternoon

Ronaldo has scored eight goals in his last two matches and with another hat-trick on Saturday against Granada he will break Raul’s record of 323 goals for the club in all competitions.

Shooting down rumours that relations are strained between the two he added: ‘I speak with him every day. I spoke with him today before coming to this press conference. 

'The forwards all have complete freedom on the pitch to go where they want to go. Cris goes to the centre or he can be on the right or the left wing as long as the team stays balanced.’

Madrid boss Benitez was asked about his relationship with Steven Gerrard following his time at Liverpool

Benitez was also asked again about his relationship with Gerrard who claimed in his autobiography serialised by MailSport that he was the one manager he felt he could not now pick up the phone to. 

Gerrard said he believed Benitez did not like him but the Madrid boss said: ‘Gerrard is a phenomenon. Out of respect for the fans of Liverpool I let it [the comments] go. It is not the right moment. I have had some fantastic moments with him and I can only say good things about him.’

Benitez was also asked Gareth Bale’s recovery from a calf strain and he admitted he might not play again for the club until Wales’ final European Championship qualifiers.

Liverpool legend Gerrard said he believed former manager Benitez did not like him in his new autobiography 

Benitez said: ‘I don’t know if Bale will be out for two or three weeks.’

Wales play Bosnia and Herzegovina on October 10 and Andorra three days later so if the Real Madrid player takes the full 21 days to recover the first of those two internationals will be his return to action.

‘If a player is fit to play there is nothing we can do,’ added Benitez when asked about the prospect of finally getting his player fit and then having to send him away on international duty.