Picture Credit: Twitter
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the most loved footballers, globally. The Portuguese forward has earned this love and respect through his skill and passion for the game. But also, through his little actions that make a big difference. A recent example of Ronaldo earning lots of praise for his little but very thoughtful gesture came during his club Manchester United’s game against Manchester City.
As the Red Devils reached Etihad for the Manchester Derby, Ronaldo was seen sidestepping Manchester City’s logo printed on the floor of the stadium’s entrance. In a video doing rounds on the internet, the Man United star is seen avoiding stepping on the opposition team’s logo while he was entering the stadium. Ronaldo enters the stadium and casually walks before he notices Man City’s logo on the floor. The 37-year-old then thoughtfully avoids walking over it and goes around it rather.
With Ronaldo winning the hearts with his gesture, many also compared it to ex-Man United midfielder Ander Herrera’s gesture, who appeared to spit on the Man City crest as he walked off the pitch during their Premier League clash in 2018.
Watch the video here:
Coming to the game played between the two Manchester clubs, Pep Guardiola’s Citizens were too hot to handle for Erik ten Hag’s Devils. Man City crushed United 6-3 on the back of two hattricks scored by two talented young strikers, Erling Haaland and Phil Foden. Meanwhile, Ronaldo was the unused substitute Erik ten Hag said the Portuguese forward was not brought on 'out of respect for his big career'.
The decision not to play him against Man City infuriated Roy Keane, who pulled no punches and claimed the Dutchman is showing 'disrespect' to the five-time Ballon d'Or winner. "I think Man United are showing disrespect to Ronaldo. I think he should have been let go before the [closing] of the window," he said on Sky Sports.
"Okay, you're the manager, you need options but you don't hold onto Ronaldo to sit on the bench. He's one of the greatest players ever. He's played him in one or two European games. It's just going to get uglier as the season goes on. If he's sitting on the bench for United, week in, week out it's just going to get uglier. I think United have shown nothing but disrespect to Ronaldo.
"They should have let him go when the opportunity came. He did have options, I know that for a fact. But to hold onto Ronaldo to sit on the bench, I think is ridiculous for a player of his stature."