Diogo Dalot has praised his national captain and club teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, who he hopes will stay at Manchester United for "many years" despite his 38th birthday being less than six months away.
The United right-back has developed a good connection with the football legend, who returned to Old Trafford at the beginning of last season.
He explained earlier in the season that the veteran forward and himself have a morning routine before matchdays, where they'd sit down in the hotel to talk and try to focus on the game ahead while drinking a coffee, despite admitting that he wasn't a fan of the drink before Cristiano got him hooked.
Advert
The pair clearly have a good relationship, with Ronaldo seeming to take the 23-year-old under his wing. The United legend recently spoke about the importance of younger players, but also that they need help along the way.
"The new generation will be the new future for the club," he told club media. "I am in favour that we should give opportunities to the young generation because they will be the future.
“But, you have to help them as well to put it in the right spots.
Advert
"The pressure is a lot, to play in the Premier League, which I believe is the most difficult league in the world by far, and you have to give them time, you have to give them the opportunity and let them grow in a normal way, without pressure."
Dalot clearly benefited from Ronaldo's guidance last season. He managed to fight his way into the starting team ahead of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and impress while doing so. He made 29 appearances across the campaign for The Reds after properly breaking into the side under Ralf Rangnick, with 24 of those being starts.
The young right-back is always full of praise for Ronaldo, and he continued that same tune when asked about the striker's abilities at his age.
“I think the stats can speak for themselves." Dalot began, talking to the United website. "He’s a machine, like I like to call him. Inside of the pitch, outside of the pitch, the way he works, the way he drives himself every single day to perform like this, to give us these goals and these performances."
Advert
While Ronaldo squashed doubts about his immediate future at the club recently, after Ten Hag also doubled down on his desire to manage the forward, it is unknown whether or not he will still be at the club this time next year.
One of the greatest of all time, Ronaldo continues to defy reality as he scored 23 goals last season despite turning 37 mid-way through the campaign.
But, whether he can go on for much longer is up for debate, with injuries troubling him at points last term.
Advert
Nevertheless, Dalot wants his teammate for club and country to continue with the club, and believes that he's got some more years of magic before he hangs up his boots.
“I think it’s a plus for this club and for the fans and, hopefully, we can stay with him for many, many years. I know he is not going to be here forever but I’m sure that he will play football for a few more years yet.
"I’m sure that he is going to do everything he can to play until the last strength that he has but it’s going to be up to him. We just need to enjoy him while he’s here.”
Both players are currently with Fernando Santos' Portugal for their Nations League fixtures.
Advert
Ronaldo unsurprisingly scored a brace against Switzerland in a 4-0 victory on Sunday, that was after a 1-1 draw with Spain where he appeared from the bench.
Dalot has been in both match-day squads, but is yet to appear. He will be hoping to get the opportunity against Czech Republic or Switzerland before he returns for duty at Carrington ahead of the new season with Erik ten Hag.
Topics: Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo, Diogo Dalot, Portugal
Cain Smith