Cristiano Ronaldo has singled out Diogo Dalot as the Manchester United player he most admires for his professionalism.
The Portuguese star has made his feelings clear on a lot of individuals, the majority of whom are no longer his teammates at Old Trafford, during an interview with Piers Morgan on Talk TV. Ronaldo has been scathing about the likes of Wayne Rooney and Gary Neville, but has saved praise for one of his compatriots.
Dalot, who was signed in 2018 by Jose Mourinho from Porto, has begun to establish himself as a starter over the past year having had a loan spell away with AC Milan and now commands the right-back role. Ronaldo has seen the defender up close, both at club level and on international duty, and believes his attitude has set him upon a lengthy and successful career.
He said when quizzed on team-mates he admires: “It’s a difficult question because all I can say is what I see from my eyes. If you ask me what I see in Manchester United, I can mention probably Dalot. Diogo Dalot is an example. He is young, but he is very, very professional.
“And I’m not doubting that he’s going to have longevity in football because he’s young, he’s smart, intelligent, and is very professional. You have a few more, but like him it’s difficult to say… probably [Lisandro] Martinez, and Casemiro and he’s in his 30s – but I will say Dalot.”
Ronaldo's dedication and commitment has often been hailed as one of his points of difference. He returned to Manchester less than 18 months ago and has reportedly been surprised by the attitude of some of the club's younger stars, who he believes have had it too easy.
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The 37-year-old cut his teeth in a side that had the likes of Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand, who placed huge demands upon him, but doesn't see similarities between himself during his younger years and those currently at the start of their career.
“I don’t think they don’t respect the experienced players or the older players, I don’t think that word is the best one. They live in a different era… their mentality, they are not the same. They have not suffered," he added.
"Their hunger. I think they have things more easily. They don’t suffer. They don’t care. I don’t mean only mean Manchester United but all the teams, all the leagues in the world. They are not the same as my generation. But we cannot blame them because it’s part of life, you know. The new generation and the new technologies, they distract them for another thing. So, it doesn’t surprise me."
