"I like to squeeze the most out of him to try and get what's good for me" – Portugal star shares thoughts on playing with Cristiano Ronaldo
Portugal and Manchester United ace Diogo Dalot has revealed how playing alongside Al-Nassr star Cristiano Ronaldo is beneficial for him.
Earlier this Thursday (September 5), Dalot helped Portugal register a 2-1 UEFA Nations League win against Croatia in Lisbon. The Porto academy graduate netted the opening goal in the seventh minute before scoring an unfortunate own goal in the 41st minute of the encounter.
Ronaldo, on the other hand, ended his five-match goal drought for Roberto Martinez's side on Thursday. He converted Paris Saint-Germain defender Nuno Mendes' cross seven minutes before Dalot's own goal.
After the end of the clash, Dalot was queried to offer his opinion on witnessing Ronaldo again shining for Portugal. The 25-year-old full-back replied to Portuguese newspaper O Jogo:
"It's special. Above all, it's a privilege to still be able to spend time with him. In these moments, I try to make the most of all the experience he has to give me, both in football and beyond. And as I usually say, I like to squeeze the most out of him to try to get what's good for me and for us."
Congratulating Ronaldo for scoring his 900th career goal, Dalot added:
"And I think it's a privilege for all of us to be able to watch, to see that he's still dynamic, with a great passion for playing for the national team, because that's commendable. And congratulations on yet another record."
So far, Dalot has shared the pitch with the Real Madrid legend 19 times for Portugal. He also played alongside the right-footed striker 39 times across competitions for Manchester United between 2021 and 2022.
Cristiano Ronaldo hailed for recent record
Speaking with O Jogo, Portugal midfielder and Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes heaped praise on his national team skipper for netting his 900th career goal. He elaborated:
"I thought we had stopped counting. At least we have stopped counting, he hasn't. He likes to count them and I believe it is a very special number for him and we are all very happy for him, because it is not just Cristiano. As well as being Cristiano, he raises the name of our nation to the highest level as he has done all these years and this is another record, another normality in his life."
Ronaldo, who failed to score a single goal at the UEFA Euro 2024, has scored 131 goals for Portugal so far. He also netted 450 goals for Real Madrid, 145 goals for Manchester United, 101 goals for Juventus, and five goals for his boyhood club Sporting CP in the past.
So far, the 39-year-old has found the back of the net 68 times and laid out 17 assists in 74 appearances across competitions for Al-Nassr.