Ronaldo has ‘no problem’ with Hojlund’s ‘Siu’ celebration in Nations League

Cristiano Ronaldo has responded to Rasmus Hojlund’s imitation of his famous “Siu” celebration, saying it was an honour to see the Denmark striker mimic it during their UEFA Nations League clash.

“For me, it was not a problem,” Ronaldo said on Saturday, before the second leg of their quarterfinal.“I knew that this was not because he did not have respect for me.

“I’m smart enough to understand that not only him but around the world people from other sports also do my celebration,” the Portuguese star told reporters before the clash on Sunday.

“For me, it is an honour.

“But [on Sunday] I hope that he can see my celebration. It is OK for me. If I score, it’s good for me, but if I don’t score and someone else scores, that’s fine with me.”

Hojlund scored the winning goal against Portugal in the first leg of their quarterfinal on Thursday and leapt up in the air for his own version of the “Siu” celebration but said he was not trying to make fun of his “idol”.

The Manchester United forward’s 78th-minute strike earned Denmark a 1-0 first-leg win over Ronaldo’s Portugal, with the 40-year-old veteran striker completely frozen out at the other end on a frustrating night.“I’m playing against the world’s best footballer, my idol, and to score and become the [match] winner, it couldn’t be better,” Hojlund told Denmark’s TV2.

“It was not to mock him or anything, I’ve always said he has had great importance for me and my football career.“Scoring against him and Portugal is huge, I went to see him in 2009, where he scored from a free kick, and I’ve been a fan ever since.”