“Ronaldo called me and congratulated me” - Cristiano Ronaldo’s ex-teammate shares heart-warming reaction to his Euro 2024 performance
Turkiye defender Merih Demiral has revealed Cristiano Ronaldo called him to congratulate him after his brace against Austria at Euro 2024 on July 2. The pair were teammates at Juventus, sharing the pitch 25 times in Turin from 2019 to 2021.
The Al-Ahli defender was the difference for his nation as they secured a place in the quarterfinal of the tournament alongside Ronaldo's Portugal. He scored twice in a 2-1 win over Austria.
Demiral said to Turkish publication Fanatik after the match:
"Ronaldo called me and congratulated me on the victory and the goals. My dream is to be the champion of Europe, and with the victory over Austria, the dream has turned into a possible reality.
Speaking further about Turkiye's chances at Euro 2024, he added:
"Everyone now says, 'Why not?' No one is aware of what we can do, while we are surprising everyone, every day. We are technically and tactically prepared. We are informed about the weak points of the goalkeeper and the defense.
"We are also focused on penalties and we are working hard on defense. I thank coach Selçuk and the whole team, as they have made special analyzes on what we will do during the break"
Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal face France in the quarter-finals on Friday (July 5) while Turkiye face the Netherlands tomorrow. Both former teammates will be hoping to lift Euro 2024 in Berlin on July 14. Demiral will sadly miss the next two games for his country after UEFA decided to punish him for his celebrations against Austria.
Cristiano Ronaldo's legacy ahead of the Euro 2024 quarterfinals
Cristiano Ronaldo is regarded by many to be one of the greatest footballers of all time. He remains one of the prolific goal-scoring figures in modern football, with several awards, recognition, and trophies despite his struggles at Euro 2024.
Throughout his career, the Al-Nassr star has made 211 appearances for Portugal scoring 130 and assisting 47. He is the player with most appearances and most goals in international football. He remains a dangerous option for the Selecao and could yet make a difference for them in Germany.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has struggled to impress at Euro 2024, with one assist to his name despite taking the most shots at the tournament. With history to be made whenever he finds the back of the net, the ball is in his court at the European Championships.
Cristiano Ronaldo will be keen to make a difference for Portugal and help them dispatch France in the quarterfinals. He will look to claim the trophy at his last dance in the competition.