Ryan Shawcross: Ronaldo Gave Me

By Joshua Walters

Former Manchester United player Ryan Shawcross has disclosed he received "the dirtiest looks" from former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.

Shawcross said this as he revealed his experience with the Juventus star when the duo was playing under retired manager Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford.

The Stoke City captain stressed that he had the experience as he came off the bench in a League Cup game at Southend in 2006, a game said to be his second appearance for the club.

Manchester United were trailing 1-0 in the game and with the hopes of finding the equaliser fading as the game neared its closure, Shawcross, a defender was introduced in the 90th minute to partner Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney upfront. 

As specified by the former Royal Antwerp player, Ronaldo gave him "the dirtiest look" he's ever seen when he made his way onto the pitch.

"I made my second appearance for Man Utd having still never really trained with the first team," revealed Showcross.

“I came on at Southend away and Fergie has gone to me."

“Go on up front, just go and play off Ronaldo and Rooney."

“So I’ve run on and they’ve looked at me and they don’t really know who I am because “I’ve never really trained with them and I’ve gone."

“I’m just playing off you, Ronaldo has given me the dirtiest look I’ve ever seen."

“I don’t think he’d know me now to be honest."

Ryan Shawcross graduated from the Manchester United youth side and spent just two years with the first team before making loan moves to Royal Antwerp and Stoke City ahead of his permanent sale to the Championship club in 2008.

The English defender was signed by Stoke City for an initial fee of £1m, which subsequently rose to a then club record of £2m due to his appearances for the side and the team's promotion to the Premier League in the following May.