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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