Manchester United‘s reach goes well beyond Old Trafford.
As the club moves forward after the departure of Ruben Amorim, focusing on identity and long-term growth, its legendary players continue to inspire the next wave of Premier League talent.
An Arsenal forward has openly shared how influential that legacy was for him.
In a recent conversation with TNT Sports, Noni Madueke mentioned that Cristiano Ronaldo, during his first stint at Manchester United, was his biggest football inspiration.
“Ronaldo is the main one for me. The Man United Ronaldo was something else. He played without fear and just went for it.”
“He aimed to dominate everyone in front of him. As his career went on, he started scoring goals effortlessly. He was the first superstar I looked up to; I wanted to be like him.”
“He introduced many new moves and was the first in our generation to play with such style—full of tricks, skills, and impressive goals.”
Madueke’s comments underline the lasting effect of Ronaldo’s early years at Manchester United, where he transformed from a young talent into a Ballon d’Or winner.
This period brought not just titles, including three straight Premier League trophies and the 2008 UEFA Champions League, but also changed the role of wide forwards in English football.
Interestingly, Madueke turned down an approach from United as a teenager before moving to PSV Eindhoven, where he worked under another former United player, Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Despite carving out his own career path, his inspiration remains tied to Manchester.
This serves as a reminder that even rivals from London grew up admiring the legends of Old Trafford.