I learned from Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United - and I'm about to return home

Anthony Elanga encountered his lowest moment at Manchester United when he missed a penalty in a shootout against Middlesbrough in the FA Cup fourth round at Old Trafford.

Elanga ballooned his penalty into the Stretford End, which meant Middlesbrough won the game, and he looked like he wanted the pitch to swallow him whole as he trudged back.

But Cristiano Ronaldo was there to console him. “He kept speaking to me and telling me, ‘It’s not the end of the world, I’ve missed loads before and you’ve shown character and professionalism taking one at your age.’ I took that on board," Elanga reflected two years later.

Ronaldo said young players in the modern game "don't care" after his bombshell exit from United but his criticism wasn't aimed at Elanga, who he took under his wing at Carrington.

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“I’ve always been someone who wants to find that extra percentage to improve and I tried to take some chapters out of Ronaldo's book," said Elanga in an interview with The Times.

Elanga made his first-team debut for United just three months before Ronaldo re-signed and he observed how the five-time Ballon d'Or winner trained, prepared for games and carried himself, something that Ronaldo hinted other youngsters didn't take proper notice of.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gave Elanga his debut but he became Ralf Rangnick's legacy and he made 37 appearances in 2021/22, scoring eight goals and assisting five times for United.

That season was a special year for Elanga on a personal level. United were awful, sacked Solskjaer and Rangnick oversaw a sixth-placed finish in the league, but he started games regularly, playing alongside Ronaldo, and his role was significantly reduced in the following season.

There were some great moments for Elanga during Rangnick's interim tenure and his excellent goal against Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano Stadium immediately springs to mind.

Elanga produced an equaliser to snatch a draw against Atletico on their home turf in the Champions League and his name was sung by the travelling away support.

"Rhythm is a dancer, Anthony Elanga, you won’t stop him if you dare. Came from Scandinavia, to be United’s saviour, scoring goals from everywhere," was the chant of choice that night.

Speaking after the game, Elanga said: "I think that was my first touch as well! I've dreamt of moments like this. Whenever I get a chance for the club I want to repay the manager [Rangnick]. I want to be the best player I can be on the pitch and I appreciate the boss."

Rangnick heaped praise on the academy product in his post-match interview and said: "I wish a few other players would take him as a role model. Not because he’s [Elanga] doing everything right, but he’s just enjoying himself on the pitch. I wish we would enjoy ourselves on the pitch."

Elanga and Rangnick developed a strong relationship, but Erik ten Hag was appointed in the spring of 2022 and Elanga's importance in the squad diminished. He made just seven starts in Ten Hag's first season and decided to join Nottingham Forest on a permanent transfer in 2023.

“I’m ready. I feel like I’ve been ready and this is a big step up for me and that I wanted and needed in my career. It’s the right time for me to come here,” Elanga told the BBC.

"It's an historical club in itself and the coach, the staff here and the players they have - young, hungry and ambitious players wanting to win, wanting to get better, wanting to elevate their own game.

"I feel like that could just help bring Forest to where they deserve to be. I feel like this season we could really show teams who we are and what we're capable of doing."

United banked £15million for Elanga and the transfer helped United operate within the financial fair player rules, as sales of academy graduates represent total profit in the books.

Elanga has candidly spoken about his time at United ands there is one player he talks glowingly about. “It doesn’t come any better than that, learning from [Ronaldo] was amazing," he said.

"The way he strikes the ball and his movement was amazing - people talk about his goals - but his movement and hunger to get those goals is second to none.

"It’s something I took from him and something I really want to show this season. You look at what some of those [United] players have won in the past and you'd be silly not to take advice from them.

"I always tried to listen and take as much advice as I could from the players that were there, bring it here, bring some of that experience with me of playing against teams in big European competitions. I just tried to learn as much as I could and if I can bring that here and try and help this team even one percent, that would be amazing for me. I am just ready to do that this season."

Elanga has been a huge success for Nottingham Forest since arriving at the City Ground and has proven himself in the Premier League, starring against some of the division's best teams.

United lost 2-1 against Nottingham Forest away from home last season and it was Elanga who provided the assist for Morgan Gibbs-White's matchwinner. But when he was substituted, Elanga repeatedly pointed to the Forest badge as left the pitch, which annoyed some United fans.

“This game was personal for me because I wanted to show I was capable of performing at the highest level. I am grateful to Forest for bringing me in," said Elanga to U.S. broadcaster NBC.

Those who know Elanga best have said he is proud of where he came from, though. Elanga was moulded in United's academy and is thankful to the coaches who taught him along the way, just as Neil Harris told the Manchester Evening News in an interview two months ago.

Harris lost his job at United after 21 years of service and Elanga reached out. "Anthony sent me a lovely video and he said 'come to a game, I'd love to see you'," said Harris.

"He got me tickets for Nottingham Forest's game against Liverpool at Anfield and I took my dad and son with me, which was really nice. Anthony came on and played really, really well.

"As soon as the game finished, and this shows you how quickly players go on their phones, I was leaving the ground and received a text from him asking whether I was still here.

"He'd been looking into the away end trying to find me. His mum turned up and I'd not seen her for 10 years, so we had a big hug and were talking about how he was always late.

"Anthony finally came out, he saw me and his mum together and he went 'oh no' because he knew he was going to get stick for taking his time! But he gave me a lovely big hug.

"The first thing he said to me pretty much was he should have scored. He said he should have chipped it and I said yep, but he knew anyway. He told me he thought about me in the away end when he missed that chance... I'm a coach from years ago and it gave me chills.

"When we signed Anthony, I got a phone call from Derek Langley to say we've got a boy here who has just landed in Hyde. I remember going to his first game and phoning him back after 25 minutes to say we need to sign him right now and that was the old-school recruitment.

"He came from Sweden with his mum, he didn't speak much English and was very quiet, but I used to sing a chant with his name and say they're going to sign that song for you one day.

"In the video he sent me, he said 'do you remember that chant you made for me? It made me feel brilliant'. Forest sing a song that is similar now and it's the little things like that."

Elanga hasn't forgotten where he came from and will return home on Saturday evening.