This article contains adult content that may be inappropriate for minors. Please confirm that you are 18 years or older to continue. This article contains images or details that some readers may find disturbing. Reader discretion is advised. Manu Hernando, current player for Racing de Santander, recalled an episode with Cristiano Ronaldo during his time in the youth academy of Real Madrid that left a lasting impression on him. The defender, now 27 years old, was in the youth setup of the merengues for three seasons starting in 2017, and although he played for Castilla, he often trained with the first team. In an interview with Cadena SER from Cantabria, Hernando shared a story about a training session that included stars like Sergio Ramos and the Portuguese international. The incident, according to him, had immediate consequences. "I accidentally kicked Cristiano. I swear, I didn't mean to kick him. But in a play where I thought I was definitely getting the ball, I went to the ground, he slightly touched the ball, and I hit him on the Achilles tendon, which was criminal. I thought: 'My God, what have I done.' That year I didn't train again," the defender said, laughing. The player detailed what happened: "I think it was around March, I don't remember exactly when, there wasn't much left in the season, but that year I wasn't called up again." Hernando also clarified that despite the incident, his career at the club was not compromised, denying reports that emerged at the time. "That year, Cristiano went to Juventus, and the following year I returned to train with the first team. Then news started coming out like 'the young player who ruined his career.' And I was thinking: 'My God, the snowball this is becoming.' There were also reports saying I was never called up to the first team again, that I was excluded, and that is a lie," he stated. To dispel any doubts, Hernando concluded: "It is true that in the two or three months left of that season I wasn't called up again, but the following summer I returned. In fact, they counted on me for the next pre-season, and I couldn't go due to an injury, but they really did count on me."
Cristiano Ronaldo Manu Hernando remains central to this story.
Cristiano Ronaldo Manu Hernando remains central to this story.
Read more in Serie A news. and related tags: Cristiano Ronaldo, Manu Hernando.