Cristiano Ronaldo Once Left An Opponent Feeling 'Small And Ashamed' After Refusing To Swap Shirts

Inter Milan left-back Robin Gosens, 27, has admitted that it was a lifelong dream to own Ronaldo's shirt and didn't pass up the opportunity to ask after a match while he was playing for his previous club Atalanta.

But the Germany international was in for a real shock when the Portuguese superstar flatly turned down his request, saying that he "didn't even look at me."

Speaking in his Dreams are Worthwhile biography, Gosens recalled: "After the game against Juventus, I tried to fulfil my dream of having [a] Ronaldo jersey.

"After the final whistle I went to him, having not even gone public to celebrate [...] but Ronaldo did not accept. I asked: 'Cristiano, can I have your shirt?'

"He didn't even look at me, he just said: 'No!'"

Gosens candidly revealed that he walked away from the failed shirt swap feeling "small."

The German full-back insisted that the "embarrassing" moment was one that he hoped no-one else saw, admitting that is "what I felt and tried to hide it."

Gosens explained: "I was completely blushed and ashamed. I went away and felt small.

"You know that moment when something embarrassing happens and you look around to see if anyone noticed it? That's what I felt and tried to hide it."

Atalanta right-back Hans Hateboer would later use the story to poke fun at Gosens.

A video emerged on social media, showing Hateboer gifting Gosens a replicate Juventus shirt in the Atalanta dressing room.

Gosens unwraps the shirt to see Ronaldo's name printed on the back. Luckily, he was able to see the funny side of the prank.

Gosens moved from Atalanta to Inter on a four-and-a-half-year deal in January, initially on loan with an obligation buy at the end of the campaign for around €25m (£21.5m).

Ronaldo, meanwhile, is now plying his trade back at Manchester United and is currently preparing for his second season back at Old Trafford, having scored 24 goals in 39 games last term.