Despite leaving Manchester United over a year ago, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to have an impact on the club.

Facundo Pellistri, one of the Red Devils’ rising talents, made his senior debut in January, netting an assist after coming on in a 3-0 Carabao Cup quarter-final win over Charlton.

Ronaldo has influenced Pellistri.

Although he didn’t have much opportunity to interact with Ronaldo due to his two loan periods with Alaves following his arrival from Uruguayan club Penarol in 2020, Pellistri definitely looked up to the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.

He’s been so inspired by the ex-Red Devils player, who used to play on the right wing like Pellistri, that he even affected his shirt number.

Despite the fact that he is not wearing Ronaldo’s renowned No.7 shirt.

Pellistri explained his decision to wear No.28 during a Manchester United fans’ Q&A as he celebrated his 22nd birthday: “Well, because when I came here to Manchester, I was playing in Penarol and I had the no.10.”

“So the two plus the eight equals ten.” That is why I accept it. And then I realized that number was also the one in which Ronaldo made his debut, and all that. So that number is very meaningful to me.”

Ronaldo, who now plays for Al Nassr, wore the number 28 on his debut for Sporting Lisbon.

He also donned it in the legendary pre-season friendly against Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United in 2003.

The famed Red Devils owner instantly signed him up, and the rest, as they say, is history.

At Sporting, Ronaldo wore the number 28.

Ronaldo went on to score 145 goals and make 64 assists in 346 games for the club during two seasons. There, he also won the Champions League, three Premier League crowns, an FA Cup, and two League Cups.

Pellistri, who has played 22 games for the club in just over a calendar year, has a long way to go before accumulating as many for the club.

He’s already tallied two assists. He’ll no likely be looking to imitate Ronaldo as he establishes his legacy at the club.