Ella Toone admits she was “in love with” Cristiano Ronaldo during his time at Manchester United and has a video message from the Portuguese “saved”.
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England star started out in Red Devils academyIdolised Portuguese icon at Old TraffordNow an inspirational figure in her own rightWHAT HAPPENED?
The England international started out in the Red Devils academy system before having to spread her wings at Blackburn and Manchester City. She returned to her roots, and the club that she grew up supporting, when they re-established a women’s team in 2018.
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Toone has become the first player to pass 50 appearances for United’s women’s side, as she becomes an inspirational figure in her own right, but the Euro 2022 winner concedes that she was very much a Ronaldo fan girl in her younger years.
WHAT TOONE SAID
The 24-year-old playmaker has told of idolising CR7: “I always say it. He's probably had such an impact on my career, the way that I wanted to be and that was Cristiano Ronaldo. I wore his boots. I wore the No 7 shirt. I was in love with him at Manchester United and the skills that he did and the confidence he played with.”
DID YOU KNOW?
Despite being an international performer herself, Toone is yet to cross paths with Ronaldo. She added: “I didn't actually get to meet him. I did see him one time, the girls were all looking through the window going: 'That's Ronaldo!' He did send me a video once and I've got that saved in the favourites!”