Arsenal-linked Pino reveals Man Utd star was his ‘point of reference’

Arsenal-linked Yeremi Pino has revealed that Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo was his “point of reference for everything” as a young player.

The Gunners are among the Premier League teams interested in the Villarreal star. 

Pino came through the ranks at Villarreal and he has been a key player for them over the past two seasons.

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The 19-year-old has grabbed seven goals and four assists from his 34 appearances this term.

Ronaldo previously had a spell in Spain with Real Madrid. He returned to Man Utd ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.

The forward netted a hat-trick as United beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 over the weekend.

Pino has revealed that he looks up to Ronaldo because of his “perseverance and effort”:

“He won me over with his mentality and sacrifice. A player who might not be a pure talent, but who, based on work, perseverance and effort, gets to where he wants to,” Pino said (via Sport Witness).

“Then he comes from Madeira, an island like Gran Canaria, and looking at him, I also recognised myself in emigration, suffering, difficulties.

“For me, he was a point of reference for everything. Today, the thing that strikes me most about him is his intact ambition: he is 37 and continues to fight and work harder than anyone to keep winning.

“An example, I know that there are people who say that he affects the way a team plays. I reply that he is still one of the few able to carry that team on his shoulders and win a game alone.”

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