Anthony Elanga has revealed his close relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United, describing the 37-year-old as his 'mentor'.
Elanga has been United's breakout star of the season, impressing in his 18 appearances for the first team and often starting ahead of some of his more senior team-mates.
The 19-year-old was quick to heap praise on Ronaldo for helping him this season, admitting to MUTV that the Portugal international is always looking to sit down with the younger players to discuss their performances.
“It’s really good [to have Ronaldo as a mentor] because I go to training quite early and see him there," Elanga began.
“If we have had a game the day before, we’ll speak about the game or training. He’s a really good person to have around the building, not just because of what he does on the pitch, but what he does off the pitch as well.
“If we [younger players] need any help we can speak to him, so he’s a really good person to be around.”
Elanga, who made his senior international debut for Sweden on Thursday, went on to credit all of United's senior players for showing him how things should be done.
“Everything starts on the training pitch,” he said. “Looking at what the oldest [players] do, taking notes from them.
“Training with them day in, day out, helps me a lot. Not just from the technical side of the game but the tactical side of the game as well, what they do out of possession.
“When I’m in the game I like to talk to the older lads to get advice, so it helps me a lot.”
He continued: “In the Academy days you would get the opportunity to train with the first team, see how it is, see the intensity.
“When you are a young lad, doing that is important because then you can go back to the Academy, do what you have learnt from the first team and put it into practice.
“That’s why I feel comfortable [on the pitch] because I get the likes of Bruno [Fernandes] speaking to me every day, and on the pitch as well, which helps calm me down and stay relaxed when I have the ball.”
Source : 90min