Cristiano Ronaldo's former Juventus team-mate has undergone a remarkable career change, with a new selfie showing that he is now working on a building site. A former youth international, the construction professional is now making a living with his hands, having previously rubbed shoulders with the ex-Real Madrid and Manchester United star in Turin.
Ronaldo's old team-mate swaps jobs
Cendrim Kameraj played for Juve between 2017 and 2019, overlapping with the Portuguese's spell in Turin between 2018 and 2021. A former Kosovo Under-21 international, winning one cap at the age group, he also played for Switzerland at various youth levels. However, he struggled to make a breakthrough into the first-team, battling multiple injury blows. He suffered three separate anterior cruciate ligament injuries and, as a result, opted to retire, and has now taken up a fresh job away from sport.
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Kameraj played 23 times for Juventus' youth teams before leaving in 2019 to join Lugano in Switzerland. He also played for Kriens in Switzerland, and returned to Kosovo to play for Dukagjini but only managed 17 senior appearances. Previously a right-back, he scored twice in a youth international between the Swiss U16s and England, as his side won 3-2 at the Toulon Tournament.
He posted a TikTok which has since gone viral, showing him alongside Ronaldo at the Juve training ground, before it dissolves into a picture of him wearing a hard hat on a construction site. The comment read: "Life changes sometimes."
During Ronaldo's time in Italy, he won Serie A twice, as well as the Coppa Italia. He did not actually share a pitch with Kameraj in a competitive game, but the pair would cross paths as they each trained. In total, during his time at the club, Ronaldo played 134 times for the Old Lady, scoring 101 goals and providing 28 assists. Juve have not actually won the title since the Portuguese departed the club, and last season, were forced to settle for a fourth-placed finish, 12 points off champions Napoli.
Ronaldo's advice for failed wonderkid
Kameraj has confirmed what his job entails, telling Gianluca Di Marzio: "I work in an office at ICM Bau, and our boss wanted us to spend a day on the construction site to understand what the work is like there and how hard it can be.
"It made us appreciate even more how lucky we are to work behind a desk."
He has also confirmed that he and Ronaldo did interact during his time in Turin, adding: "It was surreal, something special, his energy pushed everyone to give more.
"What struck me most was his mentality, he never stopped and he constantly demanded more from himself and those around him.
"He once told me, 'Talent means nothing without consistency and hard work,' and that phrase stuck with me.
"Watching how he prepared showed me what it really means to be a professional."
GettyWhat comes next for retired footballer?
While Kameraj is now adjusting to a new life, he insists he has no regrets whatsoever.
He said: "It was heartbreaking [deciding to retire], football had been my identity since I was a child, for a long time I didn't know who I was without it.
"But with time I found peace, I understood that life doesn't end when your sports career ends. Without the injuries, I could have reached the top, I was on the right path and I felt like I was improving season after season.
"However, I don't like living with 'what ifs', I gave everything I had, and that's what matters.”
And he has not given up on one day returning to the pitch, even if he accepts that he cannot play anymore: "I keep dreaming, maybe one day I'll return to football in another role.
"Perhaps coaching young players and helping them avoid the mistakes I made. But even outside of football, I just want to build a good life, be happy and stay true to myself."