Diogo Dalot: 'We wanted Cristiano Ronaldo to be with us'
By Tom Gott
Manchester United full-back Diogo Dalot has insisted the squad wanted Cristiano Ronaldo around this season and praised their response to his fiery exit.
Ronaldo agreed to the mutual termination of his contract during the World Cup break midway through the season following a blockbuster interview in which he took aim at manager Erik ten Hag and the club's owners, the Glazer family.
The 38-year-old moved to Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr, while Dalot remained with a United side who are well in the fight for a top-four finish in the Premier League, and the right-back has now opened up on Ronaldo's exit.
"I have a good relationship with [Ronaldo], ever since he arrived at Manchester United, we have had this good connection," Dalot told O Jogo. "As is known, he is happy there [Al-Nassr].
"I believe he has his dreams, his goals. He took this important step in his career, to play in another country and league, to show once again that he has enormous adaptability and resilience. The future will only be up to him to say. He still has the ability to give us a show.
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"In football, you can't live on 'ifs'. We know the quality that Cristiano brings, it was a mutual decision to take different paths and we just have to accept it.
"As a teammate, we really wanted Cristiano to be with us. We tried to make the most of the time he was here and it still gave us a lot. We have to live with the decision that was made, look forward and, with the weapons we have, continue to fight.
"A club like United has to have the ability to, if a big players leaves, find a solution. I think we have proved that we are more than 11 players."
Ronaldo scored his 13th Saudi Pro League goal in his 14th appearance on Tuesday as Al-Nassr saw off Al-Tai to keep their hunt for the league title alive.
Al-Nassr currently sit second in the league, three points behind leaders Al-Ittihad with three games left to play.
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