I’m a former Man Utd team-mate of Cristiano Ronaldo – I spent a whole summer smashing the gym because of him

FORMER Manchester United hopeful Danny Drinkwater admits he was inspired to hit the gym by to Cristiano Ronaldo.

Drinkwater, 33, began his career at Old Trafford before moving to Leicester in 2011.

Danny Drinkwater admits Cristiano Ronaldo's incredible physique inspired him to hit the gym at Man Utd

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Danny Drinkwater admits Cristiano Ronaldo’s incredible physique inspired him to hit the gym at Man UtdCredit: Getty
Drinkwater says Ronnie transformed from 'skinny teen' to the hulk in one summer

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Drinkwater says Ronnie transformed from ‘skinny teen’ to the hulk in one summerCredit: Getty

The three-time England midfielder won the title in 2016 before enduring a dud spell at Chelsea.

And after spending the last year without a contract, Drinkwater this week announced his retirement from football.

Speaking on the High Performance podcast, the £35million man revealed how boozy nights out wrecked his career at Stamford Bridge.

But Drinkwater also lifted the lid on his time at United, laughing when recalling how Sir Alex Ferguson clipped him around the head as he waited for lunch.

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And the ace has now revealed how legendary footballer Ronaldo inspired him to improve physically on and off the pitch.

Drinkwater explained how Ronaldo spent his first season at United as a “skinny teenager”, attempting to deal with the strength and brutality of Premier League football.

But after returning the next summer, Ronaldo had visibly bulked up “like crazy.”

The rest is history, with Ronnie going on to lift numerous club and individual trophies at Old Trafford.

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Drinkwater spent all summer in the gym after seeing Ronaldo's efforts

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Drinkwater spent all summer in the gym after seeing Ronaldo’s effortsCredit: Manchester United – Getty
The ex-England midfielder retired from football

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The ex-England midfielder retired from footballCredit: Getty

And Drinkwater, who failed to break into the first-team at Old Trafford, admits it was the moment he decided himself to hit the gym in order to get in the best shape possible.

He explained: “One summer Ronaldo was there and he left the next.

“He wasn’t this big machine, he was a thin teenager.

“But he came back after that summer and he’d just grown like crazy.

“Just seeing that you’re thinking ‘that’s where I need to get to’.

“That whole summer I smashed the gym because of him.”

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