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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Richard Garnett

'Muttering in Portuguese' - What Andros Townsend did to leave Cristiano Ronaldo furious during Everton clash

Andros Townsend has explained how his hopes of swapping shirts with Cristiano Ronaldo after Everton's draw with Manchester United last season almost came a cropper.

The Blues winger had managed to strike an on-field agreement at Old Trafford with the Portuguese legend to receive his jersey at the full-time whistle. Anthony Martial had given the Red Devils a first half lead but it was cancelled out after the break by Townsend himself.

However, his decision to celebrate the crucial equaliser with an impression of Ronaldo's celebration, earned him a frosty reception.

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Speaking for ITV during co-commentary of the World Cup match between Poland and Saudi Arabia, Townsend said: “He [Ronaldo] came on as a sub and honestly I couldn’t focus on the game until I asked him for his shirt. During the game, I waited for a corner. Bizarrely, I was marking him.

“I waited for a corner and asked him ‘can I have your shirt after?’ And after that, I got it out my head and I could focus on the game and thankfully I ended up scoring in that game. He said yes and then after I scored and done the SIU, I managed to get it [Ronaldo’s shirt] but he wasn’t as accommodating.”

Townsend's antics have already been repeated by Osman Bukari at the World Cup, who performed his own interpretation after pulling a goal back for Ghana against Portugal, as Ronaldo looked on from the touchline after being substituted.

But the Toffees forward, who is currently out of action with a long-term injury, could not have been more committed to grabbing a memento from the now ex-United star when the two sides met at Old Trafford last season.

Speaking about his quest after the 1-1 draw on October 2, 2021, Townsend said: “I made it my goal that I was not leaving Old Trafford without Cristiano Ronaldo’s shirt. You saw after the final whistle, I ran straight to him, I don’t know what he was muttering but it wasn’t English.

“He was muttering in Portuguese and I asked him three or four times for his shirt and eventually he gave in and said he would give it to me inside. I had to wait inside the dressing room and thankfully the kit man was able to sort it for me. That shirt I am going to keep with me.”

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