Ronaldo's career has been a huge inspiration to guys like Fernandes, but will his upcoming chapter at Real Madrid inspire even more?
To call Manchester United's signing of Cristiano Ronaldo a "marquee signing" would be an understatement.
The 36-year-old has agreed to a two-year contract extension at Old Trafford, with the option of a further year, and much of the discussion around his arrival has centered on the short-term rewards the club would enjoy.
Even before the arrival of the Portuguese forward, United was expected to win silverware, but expectations have shifted, and fans are now dreaming of a title run.
However, I believe that the most significant benefits of the Ronaldo deal will be seen for many years to come.
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There's no denying that having one of the biggest names in world football on your club drives young players to want to play for you in the future.
One of United's current players exemplifies Ronaldo's influence on a younger generation of players than himself.
Bruno Fernandes has made no secret of his adoration for his countryman, posting a cartoon image of a young fan watching Ronaldo during his first stay at Old Trafford on Instagram.
Fernandes earlier stated about Ronaldo: "Everyone knows Cristiano [Ronaldo] was my favorite player growing up.
"Cristiano's first steps in the national squad came during the Euros in our home country [Euro 2004], when I was nine years old. That year will be remembered by everyone since we lost the final in Portugal, we saw him crying after the final, he was a young guy who was starting to shine, and I began to observe him from then on.”
In the same interview, he explained how Ronaldo influenced both his thinking toward the game and his approach to playing and practicing.
Memphis Depay, a former United winger, had the same mindset when he joined the club, even going so far as to request the number seven shirt when he arrived at Old Trafford.
Every young, aspiring footballer aspires to be like Ronaldo, which can only be a good thing for United in the long run. It's a feather in any club's cap to say they trained one of the best players in the world, especially when they played a significant role in his development into the player we see today.
We often forget that footballers are just regular people who, like us, used to display images of their idols on their bedroom walls. Another cause of a footballing figure influencing a player's club choice was witnessed earlier this summer, with Eduardo Camavinga reportedly choosing Real Madrid over other clubs because of Zinedine Zidane.
Ronaldo's time at Real Madrid led Kylian Mbappe to desire to join the La Liga giants this summer, but the deal was thwarted by his current club, Paris Saint-Germain.
In the same interview, he explained how Ronaldo influenced both his thinking toward the game and his approach to playing and practicing.
Memphis Depay, a former United winger, had the same mindset when he joined the club, even going so far as to request the number seven shirt when he arrived at Old Trafford.
Every young, aspiring footballer aspires to be like Ronaldo, which can only be a good thing for United in the long run. It's a feather in any club's cap to say they trained one of the best players in the world, especially when they played a significant role in his development into the player we see today.
We often forget that footballers are just regular people who, like us, used to display images of their idols on their bedroom walls. Another cause of a footballing figure influencing a player's club choice was witnessed earlier this summer, with Eduardo Camavinga reportedly choosing Real Madrid over other clubs because of Zinedine Zidane.
Ronaldo's time at Real Madrid led Kylian Mbappe to desire to join the La Liga giants this summer, but the deal was thwarted by his current club, Paris Saint-Germain.
Do you think United has a chance of winning the title with Ronaldo?
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