Pranav Kannan
Joao Palhinha full of praise for Manchester United superstar Cristiano Ronaldo
Speaking in an interview with the Times as quoted by Manchester Evening News, Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha was full of praise for Manchester United star and Portuguese teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Portuguese midfielder admitted that it was a dream come true to be part of the same dressing room as the 37-year-old superstar and admitted that it would be amazing to face the superstar when his side takes on Man United later today.
Unfortunately for Palhinha though, Ronaldo will not be making the trip to London with the star failing to recover from the illness that also kept him out of the midweek tie against Aston Villa which Man United won.
Palhinha’s wish of facing his compatriot on the pitch may not come true today but there is no doubt that he will be sharing the dressing room with the 37-year-old just a week later in Qatar as they look to win the coveted competition.
Ronaldo may not have had the best of seasons under Erik ten Hag this time around and injuries and age finally seem to be catching up with the forward but there is no doubt that he still remains the main source of inspiration for many youngsters around the world.
Speaking about his countryman, Palhinha could not hide his excitement and admiration for the former Real Madrid superstar.
“I have good memories, when I was young, of seeing Ronaldo on TV playing here for the first time. To play against him this weekend, and share a dressing room with him, is a dream come true. This World Cup is not just about Cristiano; everyone wants to win, as a gift for our country. We have the talent. But we will fight for all of Portugal, not just one person”
Portugal will know that Ronaldo might not be in the best of form, but they will be counting on him to come good during the showpiece event. The World Cup has eluded the 37-year-old superstar and this could be his last chance to set it right.
It will not be easy considering the sheer quality on display but Portugal do have one of the most talented squads at the World Cup and if it can come together, then there is a huge chance for the team to win the cup.
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It remains to be seen how the World Cup goes for Ronaldo. If it can get him back to form and he comes back to club football full of confidence, United will feel very glad for the rest of the season and let’s hope for that.
