Denmark striker Rasmus Hojlund copied Cristiano Ronaldo’s characteristic “Siuuu” celebration after scoring the winning goal against Portugal in a Nations League quarter-final match on Thursday, but claimed he was not mocking his “idol”.
The Manchester United forward’s 78th-minute goal gave Denmark a 1-0 first-leg victory over Ronaldo’s Portugal, with the 40-year-old veteran striker entirely shut out at the opposite end on a dismal night. Hojlund, who came on as a replacement, scored the winning goal before imitating former Manchester United and Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo’s celebration.
“I’m playing against the world’s best footballer, my idol, and to score and become the (match) winner, it couldn’t be better,” Hojlund said on Denmark’s TV2.
“It wasn’t to insult him or anything; I’ve always maintained he was very important to me and my football career.
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“Scoring against him and Portugal is huge, I went to see him in 2009, where he scored from a free kick, and I’ve been a fan ever since.”
Hojlund earlier revealed that he “fell in love” with football and Manchester United because of Ronaldo, who now plays for Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr.
The Danish attacker ended a long drought for his club by scoring in Manchester United’s win over Leicester City last weekend, and he followed that up with the winner against Portugal.
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