05 February 2024 , 18:35
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Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund found a spot for Cristiano Ronaldo in his dream United five-a-side team, but there was no space for all-time top scorer Wayne Rooney
Ronaldo had two stints at Old Trafford, winning the Ballon d'Or and Champions League in his first. The Portugal star was less successful in his second stint, and left by mutual agreement before his contract with the Old Trafford club was up.
Denmark international Hojlund was brought in over the summer to fill the gap left by Ronaldo's departure. The former Atalanta man started slowly after his £72m summer switch, but has found form since the turn of the year with four goals in as many games.
Hojlund was a United supporter as a boy, starting to follow the club in the first decade of the century, and this has been reflected in his picks for his five-aside team. With only five spots available, though, some big names had to miss out.
Speaking to The United Stand, Hojlund made goalkeeper and compatriot Peter Schmeichel his first pick. "I need to put Peter in goal. Peter is Danish," he said. "Peter won everything here. Peter is a legend here but is also a legend in Denmark because he won the Euros for us."
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With only one spot in defence, Hojlund was made to choose between Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic. In the end, the English half of the 2007-08 Champions League winning partnership got the nod.
"I need to put Rio in there because he's very memorable to me," Hojlund continued. "I would love to put Vidic in there, but I can only have one defender.
Do you agree with Rasmus Hojlund's picks? Have your say in the comments section
Rasmus Hojlund had tough decisions to make when naming his ideal five-a-side team (Getty Images)Only a handful of United players won the Champions League in both 1999 and 2008, and two of them make it into Hojlund's team. Both are academy graduates who spent their entire careers at Old Trafford, with Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes getting the nod in the midfield spots
"I want to put Ryan Giggs in there, Paul Scholes and then Cristiano up front," Hojlund explained. That means no Rooney, and also no room for former United skipper Roy Keane, among others.
Back in the summer, Hojlund told club media the 2008 Champions League final success was one of his first football memories that stuck with him. He also explained the role his dad played in getting him into football, leading to him choosing United as his team.
"My father pushed it over my head, and I started following everybody around the club and of course, I was very into Premier League football and everything around it," Hojlund said. “So, I kept watching, and of course, Cristiano [Ronaldo] was my idol when he was playing back then, so I kept following him and of course kept following Manchester United.”