Crazy Reason Why Cristiano Ronaldo Would Never Swap Jerseys With Roma Players

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Last Updated:May 14, 2025, 19:05 IST

Cristiano Ronaldo has maintained a longstanding stance against swapping shirts with the opposition players of this one specific club.

Cristiano Ronaldo at his Real Madrid presentation in 2009 (AP/PTI)

Passionate supporters and close observers of legendary footballer Cristiano Ronaldo would remember his longstanding stance of refusing to swap shirts with a specific club throughout his career. During his illustrious 23-year-old reign, the Portuguese great has played for multiple prominent clubs such as Manchester United and Real Madrid while also forging great rivalries with the likes of Barcelona and Liverpool.

Despite playing against Barca with remarkable intensity in clashes where tempers often flared up, Ronaldo has never refused to swap shirts with their players and reserved his stance for another side. That club happens to be Roma, whom the legend countered on multiple occasions during his time in Italy playing the Serie A for Juventus. The feud kicked off in 2007, when playing for United, Ronaldo took on Roma in the second leg quarterfinal match of the Champions League at Old Trafford.

Heading into the match after a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Roma in the first leg, United completely battered the Italian club in a 7-1 victory to storm into the semifinal round. Ronaldo, who scored two goals after heroically breaking Roma’s defence from the right side of the midfield, would recount his horror experience dealing with the Roma players in an interview in 2018.

“When it was 6-0, they asked me to stop. An opponent begged me to stop dribbling. Others threatened to hurt me," Ronaldo told the Daily Express, laying down his shirt rule and pledging never to swap one with a Roma player in his career. “Roma? There is no player with whom I would exchange a shirt."

Over the years, Ronaldo has carried the angst to the field and saved his best performances against Roma. The giant footballer has taken on the Serie A club on 12 different occasions in his career and scored 10 goals, acting as a regular match-winner against them.

Meanwhile, Ronaldo, who plays for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, has currently put talks of a fresh two-year contract with the club on pause. According to Marca, Ronaldo is contemplating a potential return to Europe in club football after Al-Nassr failed to win a trophy this season.

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