Former Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot couldn’t help but engage in light-hearted banter with his old club teammate and football legend Cristiano Ronaldo during a break from the Portugal national team.
Amid Portugal’s intense preparations for their upcoming matches against Slovakia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Manchester United full-back seized a golden opportunity. He captured the actual moment Nasr striker Ronaldo was engrossed in his phone. With a mischievous smile, Dalot immediately shared the funny scene on his Instagram Story, adding a humorous caption: “The new generation is always on the phone.” The caption was sarcastic and was aimed at A gentle joke from his 38-year-old colleague playfully highlighted the generation gap between them.
While the moment was entertaining, it was also a reminder of Dalot’s deep respect for the Portuguese icon. He openly admitted his admiration for Ronaldo. He even attributed his move to Old Trafford in 2018 to his desire to follow in the footsteps of the great Ronaldo.
Their dreams came true in 2021 with Ronaldo’s glorious return to Manchester United, bringing the young talent closer than ever to his idol. However, their shared history takes an unexpected turn. Just over a year later, Dalot ended his United journey following a high-profile interview with Piers Morgan and subsequent release, paving the way for a new adventure in Saudi Arabia.
Despite the roller-coaster ride, it’s worth noting that in the twilight years of their time together at Old Trafford, Dalot defended Ronaldo amid tensions with new manager Erik ten Hag. He spoke glowingly of Ronaldo’s contribution, highlighting his goal-scoring prowess and experience throughout his extraordinary two-decade career.
The football world is anxiously watching Portugal enter a new round of international competition, with their eyes focused on European Championship qualifiers. In the sport’s ever-evolving landscape, new stars like 19-year-old midfielder Joao Neves are ready to emerge, their stories waiting to be written alongside legends like Ronaldo and Diogo Dalot.