Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted that his public persona has had a negative impact on his career.

The Portuguese international believes that his reputation for being petulant and arrogant has led to supporters disliking him.

"I don't want to cry about it, but sometimes I think yes," he told CNN when asked whether his perceived personality has cost him in the past.

"It's a question to which I never give the 100% right answer, because sometimes I really don't know. I don't think it's allowed for people to change my personality.

"Maybe sometimes, I agree that I have a bad image on the pitch because I'm too serious."

The former Manchester United star went on to say that he is a "competitive" person, but hit out at critics who have labelled him as over-confident.

"People who call me arrogant, I'm interested, not with all of them, but most of them," Ronaldo added.

"One day I would like to sit with them and have a chat to see in which way they think I'm arrogant, because I think they need to sit with me to know who the real Cristiano is."

Real Madrid currently lie in eighth place in La Liga, eight points behind leaders Barcelona.