Explained: Cristiano Ronaldo's unique 'sleeping' celebration after scoring 700th club career goal
Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 700th club career goal during Manchester United's 2-1 win at Everton over the weekend. The Portuguese icon celebrated this feat in a unique fashion alongside Antony, who scored the opening goal for the Red Devils.
FollowImage Credit: Manchester United Twitter
Legendary striker Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 700th club career goal during Manchester United's 2-1 win against Everton over the weekend at Goodison Park, sparking massive jubilation among CR7 fans. However, what surprised them is that the Portuguese icon did not break into his trademark 'Siuuu' celebration and instead chose another unique way to cherish this landmark milestone.
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Manchester United's crucial Premier League victory came a week after Erik ten Hag's men suffered a 6-3 nightmare at Manchester City. The Portuguese icon cut a frustrated figure as he warmed the bench in the dugout during the clash in Etihad. A few days later, the Red Devils registered a narrow 3-2 win over Omonia in their Europa League clash that saw Ronaldo in action. However, the 37-year-old striker failed to make an impact.
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Manchester United needed to perform well in Sunday's clash against Frank Lampard's men. And Ronaldo emerged as the differentiator as the five-time Ballon d'Or winner scored the second goal for the Red Devils after being substituted in the first half due to an injury to Anthony Martial.
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Ronaldo scored a sensational strike after his former Real Madrid teammate Casemiro handed a beautiful pass. The strike, which was the Portugal talisman's 700th goal in his club career, proved to be the eventual winner for United. After reaching this milestone, the legendary striker did not perform his trademark 'Siuuu' celebration. Instead, he crossed his fingers across his chest with his eyes closed and mimicked a person sleeping. Antony, who scored the team's opening goal, joined him and followed suit.
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Manchester United have now explained the unique celebration, revealing that it was an internal joke between the players. "We can now reveal that Ronaldo's celebration was a self-deprecating in-joke with his fellow teammates, highlighting the strong bonds among the players in Erik ten Hag's squad," the club wrote on the official website.
WATCH: Ronaldo's celebration after scoring 700th club career goal
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"Of course, Cristiano is renowned for looking after himself and ensuring he is always in the best possible condition, which naturally involves hours of hard work on the training pitch and in the gym. It also includes resting at the right moments and ensuring he has enough sleep to aid his recovery: it has previously been reported that Ronaldo naps several times a day! CR7's celebration at Everton was amusingly a nod to the position in which he sleeps when travelling with the squad, which hasn't gone unnoticed by his teammates who are all eager to learn from him," United added.
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Reports have claimed an internal feud between Ronaldo, Ten Hag and United players is raging. However, scenes at Goodison Park on Sunday proved otherwise. Inside jokes among Red Devils stars will be positive news for fans, reflecting unity among the group. It will be interesting to see if the Dutchman continues with Ronaldo as his lead striker in the team's next Premier League clash against Newcastle. With Martial's fitness still an issue, the United boss could rely on the Portuguese icon to unleash his goalscoring prowess to fire the team in the league.
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