Academy star Alvaro Fernandez, currently on loan at Preston, has recounted what Cristiano Ronaldo told him during their first interaction at Manchester United, explaining how he was taken aback when he saw him for the first time.
The left-back is enjoying his spell at Championship club Preston, racking up four assists and five clean sheets in 20 appearances. Fernandez was named United’s Under-23s player of the season last campaign for continuing his impressive form since his 2020 switch from Real Madrid’s youth set-up.
He had been welcomed into first-team training on a number of occasions last term before he sealed his loan move in the summer. The defender told Relevo of the first time he greeted Real icon Ronaldo in the changing rooms at United and couldn’t help but let out a Spanish expression that conveys shock and surprise.
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“When Cristiano Ronaldo arrived, I was still changing in another locker room. I saw him and said: 'Hostia!'” he said. “And then everything started.”
Ronaldo told Fernandez he knew of his former ties to the Bernabeu during the training session. The 19-year-old continued: “Later, in the rondo, he introduced himself and told me that he knew I came from Real Madrid.
“He said that they had told him about me, that he knew I came from 'La Casa Blanca'." Fernandez had come into contact with the first team during last season’s dismal spell under Ralf Rangnick.
The teenager recognised that the club was going through a rough patch upon his introduction, despite the Reds squad containing four named quality players.
"Without disrespecting anyone, Manchester United was a bomb at that stage,” he added. “Cristiano, [Marcus] Rashford, Juan Mata, [Edinson] Cavani... They were all there.
"I joined them on a day-to-day basis after Christmas. It was just when they removed [Ole Gunnar] Solskjaer as coach and brought in Ralf Rangnick.”
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