Cristiano Ronaldo is an inspiration to footballers around the world. The Portuguese superstar is one of the greatest players to have ever played the game in his own right, and his strict fitness regime that has helped him to survive at the highest level of the game for nearly two decades is one that demands respect from fellow professionals all over the planet.
Now 36 years old, he has returned to Manchester United after twelve years with Real Madrid and Juventus, and if his second debut at Old Trafford is to anything to go by – he has still got every bit of his game.
Ronaldo struck twice on his debut back at the club where he first made a name for himself, with two goals on either side of the halftime interval in what was a 4-1 win for Manchester United over Newcastle.
His influence on the pitch shone through for everyone to see, but it is his influence off the pitch that was drawn to attention following the game.
Back-up goalkeeper Lee Grant has given testimony of the inspiration that Ronaldo currently serves for the rest of the Manchester United squad, as he visited a TalkSport podcast a day after United’s big win over Newcastle.
When asked about the impact that Ronaldo has had on the group so far, Grant cited an instance of the United squad’s routine on the night before their weekend fixture.
According to Grant, Friday nights are usually reserved for desserts after dinner – but to the surprise of the goalkeeper, not one player in the squad lined up to serve themselves with some apple pie or custard.
Instead of serving themselves with a bit of a cheat meal on the night before the match, the players were more interested to know what was on their new superstar teammate’s plate – Grant provides further insight that all Cristiano had on his plate were avocadoes and a couple of boiled eggs.
There is no doubt regarding the fact that the incredible shape that Ronaldo is in even at the later stage of his career is the sole reason why he inspired so many footballers to ditch their regular routine and try doing things “the Cristiano way.”
If the superstar’s impact off the pitch was not enough, he followed it up on Saturday by bagging a brilliant brace that made it feel like he never left Old Trafford in the first place.
United fans will be hoping that Ronaldo continues to impact their squad both on and off the pitch, as there could be no better superstar one can want around a squad full of young, impressionable footballers.
