Real Madrid‘s new manager Julen Lopetegui may need to have an awkward conversation with the club’s star player when he officially takes the reins in his new job.

Back in November, the current Spain manager had given an interview to Argentina’s TyC Sports in which he said: “Messi is the best player in history.”

That’s usually a forbidden stance for anyone connected to Madrid, and perhaps Lopetegui will take back his words given his new position as Cristiano Ronaldo‘s club manager, especially considering Madrid may need to put up quite a fight to convince the Portuguese star to stay the the club this summer.

In the meantime, Lopetegui will get a second chance to judge Ronaldo’s talents, up close, as Spain take on Portugal in their Group B-fixture at the World Cup on Friday.