JERSEY BUOYED

Danjuma’s got Ronaldo’s shirt...now he’s out for revenge

ARNAUT DANJUMA left Old Trafford in September with Cristiano Ronaldo’s shirt – and a brutal reminder of what has made the Manchester United striker one of the best in the business for almost 20 years.

Now Villarreal’s former Bournemouth winger (left) is aiming to give Ronaldo a taste of his own medicine and show why Liverpool are interested in bringing him back to the Premier League.

Danjuma was the best player on the pitch when the Spanish club travelled to Manchester in the Champions League. But his only reward was UEFA’S man-ofthe-match trophy

and Ronaldo’s prized No.7 jersey as

United came from behind to win thanks to the 36-year-old’s last-minute strike. United travel to Spain for the return on Tuesday night.

Danjuma, who helped Holland qualify for the World Cup, said: “I know where I stand in football.

Pride

“I have a self-awareness that does not come from pride or arrogance.

“So if Ronaldo scores 10 goals in the Champions League then I might get five. But someone from a pub team would be lucky to get one.

“For many players pride is often a thing that stops them asking for their opponent’s shirt. It sometimes gets in the way. But not with me. When the last whistle sounded, with me it was straight to Ronaldo!”

Ronaldo’s unwashed United shirt now hangs in the house Danjuma moved into when he transferred from Bournemouth to Villarreal for £21million last summer. The Cherries were relegated from the Premier League in his first season on the south coast. But 17 goals and eight assists prompted Unai Emery to convince the Yellow Submarine to make the 24-year-old the club’s second-most expensive signing.

He has already scored seven times – and his impact in La Liga and the Champions League has caught the eye of Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.

Danjuma is delighted that Emery rejected the chance to become Newcastle boss following the £300m Saudi-led takeover at St James’ Park.

He said: “For me he is really a top coach. Let me tell you how we connected. After only one pre-season game, with me as a left midfielder in a 4-4-2, he came to me to say, ‘you give the team so much threat when you get on the ball, that I am going to see who can play behind you either on the left or right, so you can stay as far up front as possible’.

“I was not going to say no to that!

I’m not averse to defending because it is a must in today’s football.

“But recognising the qualities within his group so quickly and then letting it run like it did, made me realise that Emery is a top coach.

“If I can save energy, the more glittering moments I can have in the game.”

Dedicated

Danjuma was born in Nigeria, but his Dutch father moved the family back to Holland in the hope that his children would go to university.

He said: “My father is someone who really reminds you to be the best.

“I myself was against learning. I started a pre-university education before my father eventually accepted that I was dedicated to football.

“He told me if I didn’t get a minimum level of qualifications then he would take me out of the PSV academy. In retrospect, I really regret that I didn’t try my best.”