DIOGO DALOT admitted to being in a grumpy mood when Cristiano Ronaldo netted a thunderstrike against Porto for Man United in 2009.
A then 10-year-old Dalot, who was a supporter of the Portuguese giants, was watching Ronaldo’s rocket shot from the terraces.
The full-back, who was 10 at the time, was at the Estadio do Drago when the Portugal skipper, smashed in a Champions League quarter-final goal from distance for the Red Devils.
The club would go on to beat their rivals 3-2 on aggregate knocking them out of the contest.
Dalot, 22, told United’s official web site: “The first time I saw him was in Porto when he scored that goal from almost 100 yards.
“I was in the stands behind the goal and obviously I wasn’t too happy because I was supporting Porto but it was my first memory seeing him live.
“I tried to reach him when I was a kid and he was in the national team but my first memory is that game.
“Afterwards it’s watching him on the internet and videos like everybody else.”
Dalot, whose club side play Leicester in the league on Saturday, has enjoyed an impressive turnout on the international stage with Ronaldo this month.
The defender, who joined United from Porto in 2018, set up the Portugal captain to score a goal against Qatar in their country’s 3-0 friendly win.
And Dalot, who made two Champions League appearances for his club this term, credits the former Real Madrid and Juve star for being influencing his career.
The Portugal player adds: “I’ve spoken many times about Cristiano – he was a big reference for me growing up and then having the opportunity to meet him in the national team, and now being his team-mate.
“It’s a very good achievement for me too because when you grow up you want to play with the best and, playing with the best, it’s a very proud moment in my career.
“My first memory was when he was at United, that’s when I learnt all about him and really liked the way he played.
Dalot was rumoured to have fallen out of favour at United during the 2019-20 season making just 11 appearances that term following the arrival of Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
However, the defender has played seven times across all competitions for the club this term.
And the player, who spent the 2020-21 season on loan at AC Milan making 34 appearances, credits Ronaldo with inspiring his own preparation for games this term.
Dalot said: “I think it’s the way he conducts himself and prepares himself for the games,” Diogo said.
“It’s another level. It’s special to combine the way you saw him before and now you can see him behind the scenes as well, and combine everything.
“It’s amazing to have that energy and that mentality, also, in the dressing room. I think he brings everybody up and that’s so positive for us.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
