Indian cricketer Riyan Parag has revealed why Manchester United remains his favourite Premier League club, tracing his connection with the team to its famous red jersey and his admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo. A passionate football follower, Parag has grown up watching the Premier League and continues to closely follow the competition.
His Manchester United fandom also features in JioStar’s ‘Humara Long Distance Love’ campaign ahead of the Premier League 2026-27 season, which begins on August 22.
Speaking to JioStar, the Rajasthan Royals cricketer discussed Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo, Chelsea star Cole Palmer and even picked footballers and cricketers who he believes could successfully switch sports.
Riyan Parag on Manchester United and Premier League
| Riyan Parag – Football Choices | Details |
|---|---|
| Favourite Premier League Club | Manchester United |
| Football Idol | Cristiano Ronaldo |
| Premier League Player He Wants to Score More | Cole Palmer |
| Footballer Who Could Adapt to Cricket | Erling Haaland |
| Cricketer Who Could Play Football | Jofra Archer |
| Premier League 2026-27 Starts | 22 August 2026 |
| Live Streaming in India | JioHotstar |
| TV Telecast | Star Sports |
Why Riyan Parag Supports Manchester United
For Parag, his association with Manchester United dates back to his early years of watching football.
The club’s identity, players and famous red jersey attracted him, but Cristiano Ronaldo was a particularly important influence on his choice.
Speaking about his favourite club, Riyan Parag said:
“When it comes to football, Manchester United is the team for me. I grew up watching them and admiring their players. I loved the red jersey, and I really admired Cristiano Ronaldo during his time there. So, that explains my choice.”
His affection for Manchester United provides another example of the Premier League’s longstanding following among Indian sports personalities and fans.
Cristiano Ronaldo Is Riyan Parag’s Football Idol
Parag singled out Cristiano Ronaldo as the footballer he has admired more than any other.
Ronaldo joined Manchester United as a young player from Sporting CP and developed into one of world football’s biggest stars during his first spell at Old Trafford.
Explaining what made Ronaldo special to him, Riyan Parag said he admired the Portuguese player’s journey from a young Sporting CP prospect and the impact he subsequently made in the Premier League.
For Parag, Ronaldo’s development and influence on the competition set him apart from other players he has followed.
Riyan Parag Wants to See More Goals from Cole Palmer
Although Manchester United is his club, Parag also has his eyes on Cole Palmer during the Premier League season.
He praised Palmer’s tactical, mental and technical qualities and said he would like to see him add even more goals to his game.
“In the Premier League, I want to see Palmer score the most goals. He is strong tactically, mentally, and technically.”
Parag believes greater goalscoring output could further enhance Palmer’s impact in the Premier League.
Could Erling Haaland Play Cricket?
Parag was also asked which Premier League footballer might be capable of making the transition to cricket.
His choice was Erling Haaland.
The Indian cricketer pointed to Haaland’s fitness and height as physical attributes that could potentially help the striker adapt to cricket if he ever attempted the sport.
| Player | Riyan Parag’s Sporting Switch |
|---|---|
| Erling Haaland | Football to Cricket |
| Jofra Archer | Cricket to Football |
Jofra Archer Could Make a Good Footballer
When the question was reversed and Parag was asked to identify a cricketer capable of transitioning to football, he selected his Rajasthan Royals teammate Jofra Archer.
According to Parag, Archer has a strong interest in football and regularly plays the sport.
His familiarity with Archer through their time together at Rajasthan Royals gave Parag an obvious candidate when considering which cricketer might possess the attributes needed for football.
Riyan Parag Features in Humara Long Distance Love Campaign
Parag’s Manchester United connection has also become part of JioStar’s ‘Humara Long Distance Love’ campaign ahead of the Premier League 2026-27 season.
The campaign highlights the long-distance relationship Indian supporters have developed with English football clubs despite being thousands of kilometres away from their favourite teams.
For Parag, that connection is with Manchester United — shaped by childhood memories of the red jersey, the club’s players and particularly Cristiano Ronaldo.
Premier League 2026-27 Starts August 22
The new Premier League season begins on August 22, 2026, bringing Manchester United and the rest of England’s top-flight clubs back into action.
Indian viewers can follow the Premier League 2026-27 live on JioHotstar and Star Sports, with the new campaign providing another season for supporters such as Riyan Parag to follow their favourite English clubs.
For Parag, regardless of the players he admires elsewhere in the league, his club preference remains clear: Manchester United is the team for him.
