Al Nassr and Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo had a profound impact on one former Manchester United player during his second run at the Premier League club.
The Red Devils made a blockbuster move to bring Cristiano Ronaldo back to Old Trafford in 2021 after he was signed from Juventus for a £12.8m transfer fee.
Cristiano Ronaldo returned to Manchester United under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign and the 41-year-old Portuguese forward impressed in his first season back at the club.
However, the United legend’s second spell at the Red Devils would be short-lived after his falling out with Erik ten Hag ahead of his Old Trafford exit in 2022.
Gary Lineker with the biggest praise of all for Man Utd legend Cristiano Ronaldo! 🐐🔥
What Cristiano Ronaldo did for Antony on the Real Betis winger’s Man Utd debut under Erik ten Hag
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked as Manchester United manager in 2021 and the Red Devils legend’s exit paved the way for Erik ten Hag’s arrival from Ajax.
Ten Hag’s first summer window as United boss saw a reunion with Antony, who was brought to Old Trafford for a whopping initial transfer fee of £81.3m from Ajax.
Cristiano Ronaldo started on the bench for Man Utd’s 3-1 win over Arsenal in September 2022, while Antony was handed his Red Devils debut at Old Trafford.
Speaking on the Podpah podcast, Antony explained how former United teammate Ronaldo showed him incredible support ahead of his debut for the club.
“Cristiano Ronaldo is an incredible person, very funny and polite,” he said.
“He told me that the day I stop feeling butterflies in my stomach, I should be careful.
“Before my debut against Arsenal, he reassured me by telling me to take my first touches calmly and that I already knew how to do the rest.”
VOTE NOW for your pick between Eric Cantona and Cristiano Ronaldo
Who was the best Manchester United number 7 between these two icons?
What happened in Antony’s 2022 Man Utd debut against Arsenal after the Brazil star’s Cristiano Ronaldo praise?
Antony played 58 minutes in front of the United fans at Old Trafford on his Premier League debut before Ten Hag withdrew him and replaced him with Ronaldo.
The 26-year-old Real Betis winger made an impact in his first match for the Red Devils after he broke the deadlock for United against Arsenal at Old Trafford.
Bukayo Saka pulled Arsenal level in the second half, but a stunning Marcus Rashford brace ensured that the Red Devils sealed a 3-1 win over the Gunners in 2022.
Antony left Old Trafford last summer and completed a permanent move to Betis, with the Spanish club agreeing a deal worth £21.65m for the former United winger.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
