7<\/p>\n Ekkelenkamp came up through the ranks at Ajax – scoring six goals in 40 matchesCredit: Getty Images 7<\/p>\n Ronaldo’s Juventus were eliminated in the Champions League by Ekkelenkamp and Ajax in 2019Credit: Getty<\/p>\n It was against a club in Italy in which Ekkelenkamp made his Champions League debut in Ajax<\/a>‘s 1-1 draw with Juventus<\/a> in 2019.<\/p>\n Ronaldo scored in Amsterdam, but ultimately fell flat on his face as his Juve side were eliminated after a 2-1 defeat in the second leg.<\/p>\n The 41-year-old had already been shocked late in the first meeting after he was tugged to the turf by Ekkelenkamp as he looked to join a late counter-attack.<\/p>\n The interaction went so viral that Ekkelenkamp’s Wikipedia was instantly changed to ‘Ronaldo-gooier’ (Ronaldo thrower), while articles in the Netherlands also referenced the nickname as well.<\/p>\n read more on UdineseEkkelenkamp reacts to Ronaldo foul<\/p>\n “It was a big moment, a little bit,” he joked in an exclusive interview with talkSPORT.com during Udinese’s International Media Days event. “But they didn’t talk really about it here. <\/p>\n “In the Netherlands really a lot, it was really a big thing. But yeah, Ajax didn’t play a lot in the Champions League semi-finals, quarter-finals.<\/p>\n “So it was, of course, a really big game. So I think almost every Dutch people, they watched the game, of course.<\/p>\n “And then I made a little bit important foul [on] him. And then it went big.<\/p>\n “I saw somebody run, I knew it was him,” Ekkelenkamp continued. “And I saw him running very fast so I knew he went for the goal. <\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n Ekkelenkamp has four goals and two assists in 26 Serie A games for Udinese this season<\/p>\n “And then I thought, yeah, maybe better to do this foul!”<\/p>\n Ajax even clipped up Ekkelenkamp’s foul on Ronaldo as part of a public plea for their then-star to be called up by Ronald Koeman.<\/p>\n However, Udinese’s No.32 is still yet to play for the senior Netherlands side, largely due to his country’s strength in depth in his position<\/a>.<\/p>\n One of those include his former Ajax teammate Ryan Gravenberch<\/a>, who has transformed himself into a holding midfielder at Liverpool<\/a>.<\/p>\n “To be honest, no,” Ekkelenkamp admitted when asked if he was surprised by Gravenberch’s switch from box-to-box to a holding role.<\/p>\n “I really saw already that he could be a really good six, because he was always very strong in the duels when I already played with him. <\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n Ekkelenkamp was full of praise for his Dutch compatriot, GravenberchCredit: Getty<\/p>\n “And I saw him already not really attacking midfielder, but a little bit less attacking.<\/p>\n “So I was not really surprised that he’s playing now in the six position.<\/p>\n “Very strong midfielder, and he can turn so easily with the ball,” he added on Gravenberch. “He’s a really good player.”<\/p>\n Ekkelenkamp has had his fair share of facing ‘really good players’ as well as playing with them, as was the case at youth international level.<\/p>\n The 6ft 2in ex-Antwerp star started alongside Gravenberch for the Netherlands Under-19’s in a 4-1 defeat to England<\/a> in 2018.<\/p>\n The marks of which are still recalled by Ekkelenkamp eight years later, as he instantly recalled the chasening encounter at St George’s Park.<\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n Ekkelenkamp played against an England youth side featuring Jonathan Panzo [third from left], Jadon Sancho [middle], Angel Gomes [third from right], and Phil Foden [far right]Credit: Getty<\/p>\n “The first half was maybe the worst first half ever in my youth days,” he revealed. “We only defended after 45 minutes. <\/p>\n “We had 1-0 for us, and we watched each other, [thinking] ‘How is it possible that we are leading with 1-0?’<\/p>\n “It was not bad from us [but] they [England] had so many good players. [Phil] Foden was really good<\/a>.<\/p>\n “But you had also the central defenders, [Jonathan] Panzo. <\/p>\n “He was also really good from the back, so our strikers had a really difficult time.<\/p>\n “And then you had Sancho. You had this No.10 from midfield. He played in Manchester, a little one [Angel Gomes].”<\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n Foden is now a key part of Thomas Tuchel’s England sideCredit: Getty 7<\/p>\n Birmingham signed Panzo last month from Portuguese side Rio Ave until the end of the seasonCredit: Getty<\/p>\n The-then Manchester trio of Foden, Sancho, and Gomes all went on to earn a combined 74 England caps.<\/p>\n![\"Jurgen](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Ajax-5.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Cristiano](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/cristiano-ronaldo-juventus-jurgen-ekkelenkamp-1069538164.jpg\")
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<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Phil](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/phil-foden-england-runs-ball-1038986548.jpg\")
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