Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo has thanked Liverpool fans for their tribute to his late son in Tuesday’s Premier League clash at Anfield.
The 37-year-old and his partner Georgina Rodriguez announced that they were expecting twins back in October, but the pair’s baby boy tragically died a few days ago.
Ronaldo and Rodriguez’s daughter survived, and the Portuguese was understandably absent from the Man United squad for their 4-0 loss to Liverpool on Merseyside in midweek.
In the seventh minute of the contest, fans in both sections of the crowd took part in a minute’s applause for Ronaldo and the family, with “You’ll Never Walk Alone” ringing around the ground.
The Man United attacker issued a heartfelt thank you to fans for their tribute on Thursday morning, writing on Instagram: “One world… One sport… One global family… Thanks, Anfield. Me and my family will never forget this moment of respect and compassion.”
Ronaldo has since been pictured back at Man United’s Carrington training base and is expected to be in the squad for Saturday’s Premier League clash with top-four rivals Arsenal, who sit three points clear of the sixth-placed Red Devils with a game in hand.