A schoolgirl whose hero Cristiano Ronaldo gave her his shirt on the Aviva Stadium pitch is delighted that he could be facing the Manchester United axe.
Ronaldo (37) could be sacked by Premier League side United following his shock claims about his club, sparking debate that's dominated headlines in a World Cup week.
Dublin girl Addison Whelan (12), who plays for Shelbourne's U13s, says United “do not deserve him”, according to her father Peter.
He told the Irish Mirror: “Addison said to me, ‘Dad, wouldn’t it be great if Ronaldo left United and joined us instead’.
“She’s an Arsenal fan and wants him at the Emirates. We’d like to see him finish out the season with us. Maybe he’d join for six months.
“She says United don’t deserve him. She definitely wasn’t upset about the interview.”
Clips from the shock new Ronaldo interview emerged on Sunday after United beat Fulham 1-2 in their last match before the World Cup kicks off.
He claimed on TV that United “betrayed” him and that senior figures at the club were trying to force out the five-time former world player of the year.
In November last year, Ronaldo’s Portugal and Ireland drew 0-0 at the Aviva in Dublin in a qualifier for the World Cup - which starts on Sunday.
As the full-time whistle blew, Addison hurdled a barrier and sprinted towards Portugal captain Ronaldo.
Stewards tried to stop Addison but her hero told them to leave her, gave her a hug, asked if she was okay, before giving her the shirt off his back.
She said at the time: "Then I was just screaming Ronaldo's name. He turned around and he saw me and he was telling the stewards to leave me.
"He came over to me, but I was just in shock and crying. I was like, ‘Can I have your jersey? Please, please. I'm a big, huge fan’.
"He was saying, ‘Are you okay?’”
Addison and Peter, who is a top youth coach at Shelbourne, were back in the Aviva last Sunday for their club’s FAI Cup Final 4-0 loss to Derry City.
Peter said: “It was our first time back since Addison got the jersey from Ronaldo. It’s just over a year ago and we were remembering it all.
“She still has the jersey. She worships him. I have never seen a kid admire a player as much. The jersey is up on her bedroom wall.”
