Sport

Cristiano Ronaldo explains that sleepy celebration with Antony

Not what we were expecting, to be honest.

Danny Jones - 12th October 2022

When Ronaldo scored the winning goal on Sunday’s game against Everton, fans would have been expecting to see his now iconic ‘Siu!’ celebration.

However, United‘s number seven had different plans to mark the 700th club goal of in his career.

In case you didn’t catch it the first time, here’s what he did instead:

@manutd That 700th-club-career-goal feeling 😍🐐 #UnitedOnTikTok #MUFC #ManUtd #CristianoRonaldo #Ronaldo #CR7 #Antony ♬ original sound – EX7STENCE™

While many people just assumed this was nothing more than an impromptu expression of relief having finally scored his first Premier League goal of the season, others assumed it was a jibe at having been sat on the bench for so long. Turns out, it’s actually a bit of an inside joke.

As shared on the club site, it was confirmed that the sleepy celebration was apparently a nod to the position he sleeps in when travelling on the team bus, which hasn’t gone unnoticed by the squad.

Ronaldo is renowned for keeping in remarkable condition – even at 37 he’s probably fitter than a fair few of his juniors in the league – but as well as long hours in the gym and on the training pitch, this also involves plenty of sleep.

Trying to get in as much recovery time as possible, the Portuguese star has as many as five 90 minutes naps throughout the day and, supposedly, this is how he sleeps when on the road for the likes of away games.

Thanks in part to Cristiano’s historic contribution on Sunday, United now sit in fifth position on 15 points after eight games with a game in hand on everyone above them apart from Chelsea.

But CR7 wasn’t the only who made records that night as new boy Antony also scored a significant goal for club debutants to continue his fine start to life at Old Trafford. He also made the celebration ten times funnier by joining in.

What do you reckon, is ten Hag’s team finally starting to click?

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Image — Manchester United (via Twitter)