Ruben Vinagre, a defender for Hull City, has said that Cristiano Ronaldo, captain of Portugal, made it easier for Portuguese players to break into the English game.
Vinagre made this statement while praising Ronaldo’s influence on the Premier League as a major factor in his own success.
When Ronaldo, then 18, made the decision to leave Sporting CP for Manchester United in 2003, the current 24-year-old was just a young child.
“It has always been a dream of mine to play in England ever since I was a kid and I saw Ronaldo play for Manchester (United). “When Wolves offered me a chance to go there and prove myself, I jumped at the chance,”Vinagre stated (via The Yorkshire Post).
The doors of English football were thrown open by Ronaldo to Portuguese players. The Premier League and the Championship both include a large number of Portuguese players now.
During his six years with Manchester United, Ronaldo established himself as a top player in the Premier League.
He won nine major championships with Manchester United and scored 118 goals in 292 games.
In 2008, the Al-Nassr skipper took home the FIFA World Player of the Year award in addition to the Ballon d’Or.
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