Manchester United and Chelsea will clash at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Ronaldo told News of the World: “I have an extraordinary relationship with Scolari and I can say we’re real friends.
“It was him who gave me my debut for the national team. Just for that he’d be a special person for me.
“But Scolari has done more than that: he’s advised me very well — as much with football- related matters as with difficult moments I’ve had to overcome.”
Ronaldo added: “I’ll never forget the conversation we had when my father died. It marked me profoundly. I understood that he had also experienced something identical when his father died and we cried together.
“But that’s just one of his facets, because he’s also capable of creating a good atmosphere and joking around.
“As he’d already handled great players and shared fantastic moments with them — such as when he won the World Cup with Brazil, he understands us like nobody else. I’ve learnt a lot from him and I’ve got special affection for him.”
