Cristiano Ronaldo has taken to social media to thank Liverpool fans for singing ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ in the seventh minute of their game against Manchester United on Tuesday.
Ronaldo missed the match at Anfield after the death of his newborn baby boy and Liverpool and United supporters joined in a round of applause in the seventh minute – Ronaldo’s number – as a symbol of support to the Old Trafford hero.
‘One world… One sport… One global family… Thanks, Anfield. Me and my family will never forget this moment of respect and compassion,’ Ronaldo wrote on Instagram alongside footage of the moment.
He returned to Manchester United training on Wednesday and was again pictured arriving at their Carrington base on Thursday, the day United confirmed Erik ten Hag as their new manager.
Ronaldo and his partner Georgina Rodriguez announced back in October that they were expecting twins. Their baby girl survived.
Cristiano Ronaldo thanked Liverpool fans for their ‘moment of respect and compassion’ in applauding him and singing ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ after the death of his newborn baby
Ronaldo was pictured arriving at United’s Carrington training ground on Thursday
The Manchester United star announced in October 2021 that he was expecting twins with his partner Georgina Rodriguez
A statement from the couple confirmed the death of their baby boy as ‘the greatest pain’, but said their baby girl survived
United have a big game against Arsenal on Saturday and it seems as though their talismanic forward will be available for selection.
In his last game for United, last Saturday, he scored a hat-trick as his side ran out 3-2 winners.
At the final whistle, Ronaldo took the match ball and put it under his shirt, appearing to reference the fact Rodriguez was due to give birth imminently.
A statement from Ronaldo and Rodriguez on Monday confirmed the death of their baby boy as ‘the greatest pain’.
‘It is with our deepest sadness we have to announce that our baby boy has passed away. It is the greatest pain that any parents can feel,’ the announcement read.
In Ronaldo’s last game for United, he scored a hat-trick and at the final whistle, put the ball under his shirt to seemingly reference Rodriguez being due to give birth
Cristiano Ronaldo arrived at Carrington in the back of a people carrier on Wednesday and had earphones in as he returned to training for the first time since the news broke
‘Only the birth of our baby girl gives us the strength to live this moment with some hope and happiness. We would like to thank the doctors and nurses for all their expert care and support.
‘We are all devastated at this loss and we kindly ask for privacy at this very difficult time. Our baby boy, you are our angel. We will always love you.’
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp commended the gesture from his team’s supporters after the defeated United 4-0 on Tuesday night.
‘I’m pretty sure if you ask anybody about it, my moment of the game, even when it was very important and a great result, was the seventh minute when our people showed pure class,” Klopp said.
‘The whole stadium together showed pure class, in a moment where we obviously, everybody knew since yesterday, since I heard first time about it, so many things they are much more important in life than football. Obviously, we really feel for Cristiano and his family.’
Ronaldo’s sister Katia Aveiro released an emotional open letter in which she said ‘our little angel is already on daddy’s lap,’ in reference to the pair’s father, Denis, who passed away in 2005 after a battle with alcoholism.
‘I love you and my heart is with you over there,’ Aveiro’s letter read.
‘May God take care of you and strengthen your path more and more.
‘Our angel is already on daddy’s lap. And our little girl is there firm and strong and full of health and is going to show us with every day that only love matters.’
Ronaldo and Rodriguez have a daughter Alana, three, and the Manchester United star also has son Cristiano Jr., 11, and twins Eva and Mateo, four.
Ronaldo’s sister, Katia Aveiro, released an emotional statement shortly after the news broke
Georgina is pictured alongside Cristiano Jr, clutching his father’s shirt after his return to Manchester was announced in 2021
Georgina shares daughter Alana, three, with Cristiano, and the Manchester United star also has son Cristiano Jr, 11, and twins Eva and Mateo, four
Since meeting Rodriguez in 2016, his partner has followed five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo from Madrid to Turin and then Manchester, as he left Real Madrid for Juventus and United.
Ronaldo’s oldest son Cristiano Jr was born in the United States in 2010 but immediately taken back to Madrid to be raised in Spain. The identity of his mother is unknown.
In June 2017, the then-Real Madrid star surprised fans with the news he’d welcomed twins Eva and Mateo through a surrogate, and just one month later he and Rodriguez announced they were expecting their first child together.
Rodriguez then gave birth to their daughter Alana on November 12, 2017. Ronaldo has in the past claimed he wants to take his tally of children to seven, matching his iconic shirt number and lifestyle brand CR7.