Rasmus Hojlund reveals why he idolized Cristiano Ronaldo
Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund has admitted that he grew up idolising Red Devils legend Cristiano Ronaldo.
Hojlund has started to win over United fans following his £72m move from Atalanta during the summer transfer window. Though he has struggled in the Premier League, the Denmark international has been one of Erik ten Hag’s star performers in the Champions League group stage, despite taking just three points from their opening four games.
Though he grew up in Denmark, Hojlund has reiterated that he grew up a fan of United, and he has now revealed that he tried to learn as much as he could from Ronaldo during his initial stint at Old Trafford.
“Cristiano has always been like my idol growing up,” he said to TeamViewer Diaries.
“I always thought he was the best football player in the world and I just tried to learn from him.
“He is the greatest goalscorer ever, probably as well. I’ve always looked at him back in the day where he was more of a dribbler and now he’s a proper, proper goalscorer.
“You know he had proper talent, but he worked hard to be the best ever and I like that about him.”
Ronaldo first joined United in 2003 from Sporting CP as a traditional touchline winger and quickly established himself as one of Europe’s most exciting players upon arrival at Old Trafford.
United went three years without a Premier League title during Ronaldo’s first seasons with the club before he played a starring role in their 2006/07 triumph, winning the PFA Players’ Player, Young Player and FWA Footballer of the Year awards for his efforts.
He won the first of his five Ballons d’Or in 2008 after United retained their Premier League title and won the Champions League. Ronaldo left for Real Madrid at the end of the 2008/09 season for a then-world record fee of £80m.
After 12 years away at Real Madrid and then Juventus, Ronaldo returned to United in 2021. Though he scored a respectable 27 goals in 54 games during this second stint, Ronaldo’s United career ended in infamy after falling out with Ten Hag and having his contract terminated by mutual consent.
