Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Ronaldo’s two up front
Star protected by ex special forces twins
WIDE OPEN BY
HERE is football legend Cristiano Ronaldo being as closely marked off the pitch as when he is playing.
But these ex-special forces twins are a couple of defenders the Manchester United ace is happy not to shrug off.
Sergio and Jorge Ramalheiro flanked the star as he joined players for a team bonding lunch in Hale, Cheshire.
The Portuguese brothers cannot help their boss during games – a string of poor results have led to United sacking their manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
But the pair, who served with an elite special forces unit in Afghanistan, can protect him and his family afterwards.
The brothers, part of a set of triplets, were in a police unit guarding politicians and judges. The third brother, Alexandre, is working as a police officer.
A source said: “Sergio and Jorge dress elegantly and look very normal. They can mix with the crowd but they are quick to think, see and act at the right moment.”
The twins, from Ansiao, north of the Portuguese capital Lisbon, joined the army from school and ended up in a special forces unit.
Countryman Ronaldo, 36, is believed to have round-the-clock protection.
In the past the ex-real Madrid and Juventus striker has been looked after by a former mixed martial arts fighter and an ex-elite paratrooper.
Father-of-four Cristiano and his partner Georgina Rodriguez, 27, who live in Cheshire, announced last month they are expecting twins.
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They are quick to think, see and act at the right moment FOOTBALL INSIDER ON THE TWIN BODYGUARDS