Andres D’Alessandro once expressed relief at being substituted after facing Cristiano Ronaldo in his prime.
The former Argentina player shared the memory during a podcast in 2022, recalling a match against Manchester United when Ronaldo was at his best.
A tactical plan quickly turned into a fight for survival, a lesson D’Alessandro would remember.
Photo by SILVIO AVILA/AFP via Getty Images
Andres D’Alessandro recalls facing Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United
On the Cortes do Flow Sport Club podcast, D’Alessandro recounted, “We played against Manchester, against Cristiano. Two lines of four, I was on the left and Cristiano on the right.”
He explained, “The coach said we would double-team him. I would wait for Cristiano, and our full-back would stay free.”
“They had two strikers, so it was mostly man-to-man marking.”
The plan aimed to restrict Ronaldo’s ability to outmaneuver defenders, but it proved difficult in reality.
D’Alessandro grateful for substitution after Ronaldo’s performance
D’Alessandro added, “The full-back on the opposite side was unmarked, and ours would wait where the ball was. Ronaldo scored two goals in the first half. It didn’t go as planned.”
“I would press him on the wing, and he’d cut inside. I’d block the inside, and he’d go down the outside. He’d chip the ball over me and the full-back.”
“I’ve never seen anyone so agile and fast. Two goals in the first half. The coach subbed me at halftime. I said to him, ‘Thank you. Thank you!’” D’Alessandro shared.
Ronaldo’s speed and movement dismantled their defense quickly. For D’Alessandro, halftime felt like relief.
This story highlights Ronaldo’s exceptional ability during his return to Manchester United, where he continued to challenge defenses with his explosive style.