Ronaldo left Madrid ahead of the 2018/19 season, after winning three consecutive Champions League titles under Zidane.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner also won LaLiga title in 2016/2017.
And Ronaldo heaped praise on Zidane, who is now in his second stint in charge of Madrid.
“The confidence that a player needs doesn’t only come from himself but also from the players around him and the coach.
“You need to feel like you are an important part of the group and Zidane made me feel special.
“He helped me a lot. I already had a lot of respect for him but working with him made me admire him more.
“That’s because of what he’s like as a person, how he talks, how he led the team and how he treated me.
“He’d tell me, ‘Cris, relax and just play your game – you are the one who is going to make the difference.’
“He was always honest with me and that’s why I’ll always have a real affection for him,” Ronaldo told DAZN.
