Ronaldo realises Real dream

80,000 come out in Madrid to welcome world record signing

Last updated: 6th July 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Ronaldo realises Real dream

Ronaldo: Paraded by Real

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Cristiano Ronaldo admitted he had realised a dream as the world's most expensive footballer was paraded by Real Madrid at a packed Santiago Bernabeu.

The £80million capture from Manchester United was given the warmest of welcomes by Real's legion of fans who were out in force for their latest 'galactico'.

The Portugal international spent the past six seasons with the Red Devils after joining from Sporting and helping the Old Trafford side win no less than eight major trophies.

The 24-year-old could barely contain his excitement at joining the Liga giants, after finally signing for Los Merengues.

"I am just so happy to be here," said Ronaldo.

Dream

"For me, I have made my childhood dream a reality, which was nothing less than playing for Real Madrid.

"I didn't expect a jam-packed stadium - this is truly impressive."

Prior to Ronaldo's highly-anticipated entrance, president Florentino Perez expressed his delight that the talented winger chose to sign a six-year deal.

"We are very satisfied to know that you made the firm decision to play for Real Madrid," Perez said.

He told Ronaldo what to expect from his new adoring fans, adding: "They will ask of you the very best, but will also give you their all."

Number nine

The Portuguese forward, who has been handed the number nine jersey, was greeted by Alfredo di Stefano - considered the greatest player to have worn that particular shirt - Eusebio and Perez.

Ronaldo is the third player to be unveiled by Madrid since Perez returned to the presidency at the start of June, following in the footsteps of Kaka and Raul Albiol.

Brazil playmaker Kaka was a reported £56million signing from AC Milan, while Spain centre-back Albiol was brought in from Valencia for a fee believed to be around £13million.

Madrid have also agreed a deal with Lyon for their striker Karim Benzema for an initial fee of £30million, a transfer that takes the Spanish giants' summer spending close to the £200million mark.

Comments (50)

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James Haining says...

As much as I loved Ronaldo and seeing him play week in, week out for one of the top teams of the modern era, this isa good piece of business and think it wont leave Man Utd as bad off as a lot of people think. He will be a massive void to fill, but we have filled these voids before. As injury prone as Michael Owen is, I like this move and think he will offer more than people think. Not capturing Tevez was sad but we will soldier on. Can't wait for the new season and winning it this yeah will be sweeter than the last three cos of the major challenges ahead. Go Man United!!

Posted 20:09 7th July 2009

Phil Rigby (Manchester United fan) says...

Sod Ronaldo, I seem to remember him saying it was his dream to join United 6 years ago. Having said that, I would have done anything to play for United no matter who trained me up and made me what I am so fair play to him. 80 million will certainly not go far in todays transfer market thanks to Real Madrid and Man City's stupid money. But a quiet word to Mr Perez... dont let him buy another fast car. He almost lost us 80 million by smashing his ferarri into a wall. Good job Van Der Sar was nearby to make another glorious 80 million pound save (as he did in Moscow just ask Mr Terry) by getting him to training in one piece. I saw a piece by a smug Madrid fan yesterday and here is my reply: yes you are a big club and are able to compete in the transfer market with anyone. But Manchester United or indeed any other English team isnt funded and bailed out by the government. (Thank the heavens...) Wouldnt want Gordon Brown anywhere near football. He knows almost as little as Mr Sepp Blatter.

Posted 12:06 7th July 2009

Keith R says...

I predict trouble for Real Madrid at some stage this season. Ronaldo, Kaka, Benzema and Co are all used to being the star of the show, hogging free kicks, ignoring passes and shooting from the corner flags. No doubt it will all click on occasions and a few teams will leak six or seven goals but I also see some frustrating performances on the horizon for Madrid. I'm not sure these new signings will be happy to make goals for each other and watch their new team mates lap up all the glory.The galacticos of several years ago had something different, they had Zidane, a humble man who is arguably the best player ever to grace a football pitch, but this lot are nowhere near his league. A big change in attitude will be required from the new galacticos if they want to succeed and they still need a player like Fabregas or Xavi to pull the strings.

Posted 11:35 7th July 2009

Slim Boney (Arsenal fan) says...

As much as Ronaldo claims to be a Madrid fanatic, money factor played a role in his move no doubt. i think his price was over inflated and Real Madrid have turned this sport into a business only fit for the wealthy and mighty. man utd fans should appreciate ronaldo's role in their previous succeses because from now on we'll see how much Man utd is midtable team without him

Posted 10:55 7th July 2009

Adam Smith (Manchester United fan) says...

First of all i would like to congratulate ronaldo on his dream of playing for Real Madrid.As a Manchester United fan i was sad to see him leave,but must be thankfull for the 6 great seasons he played for us watchng him play was awesome.Alex Ferguson isnt stupid 80 million is alot for a player who does not want to be at the club,so its good business for both clubs,I just hope we spend the money wisley i think owen is a good buy,an look forward to liverpools reaction at anfield hahahaha

Posted 09:41 7th July 2009

Nige Govender (Chelsea fan) says...

CR is talented, no doubt but RM never in the past took anybody from EPL and made them better, (owen, Beckham etc...) you are what you are because of where you play and under who...i feel before end of the new season Pelagrini will lose his job because of not getting results, CR will be at Man City next season and Kaka will be forgotten about - Just to add i hope JT does not leave CFC even though we have better record with him not playing, we require his leadership.

Posted 09:39 7th July 2009

Ali Abbas says...

Dream, what dream! The guy just loves to be in lime light and thats it. If he performs the reason would be his self created "larger than life image" not Real Madrid.

Posted 09:28 7th July 2009

Andrew Kinrade (Manchester United fan) says...

i cried myself to sleep last night after watching my hero leave for another team. i watched ronaldo play week in week out with great pleasure and now i have to watch a championship reject try and win us the league. i am very upset that ronaldo has left and i think this will destroy manchester uniteds hopes of being a bigger club than liverpool.

Posted 09:08 7th July 2009

Chris Duigan (Liverpool fan) says...

Barcelona will still beat Real 9 times out of 10, even with Ronaldo. And Man U will be scoring 30 less goals a season, and their free kick count will be reduced considerably - unless they sign another acrobat? And as for Andrew Nealon saing that Man U are the greatest team in English history? C'mon, get real. Mind you, all said and done, Ronaldo was/is a great player. But Man U better start spending some of that 80 mill.

Posted 08:30 7th July 2009

Michael Luphahla says...

Ronaldo's move to Madrid gives players like Rooney to hog the limelight.A true classy player, but his heart was nolonger at Old Trafford so better to release him.Anyway it's a boost to the account at Man U.We wish him all the best in the LaLiga

Posted 08:03 7th July 2009

Ashley Metcalfe (Manchester United fan) says...

Fair play to ronaldo and fair play to Madrid. I've spent the last month seething about this move but I have to admit that if my dream had always been to play for a certain club then I would have followed that dream. We got a good deal out of it in the end. No one can say that the Spanish League isn't gonna have a higher quality of players now with Reals spate of new signings. And uh Liverpool fans need to stop going on about how many fans they haven't got. If you have a look at the noise produced inside the top stadia in England last year United were indeed relatively close to the bottom. But so were Liverpool :s

Posted 07:44 7th July 2009

Ahmad Khan (Manchester United fan) says...

im really really happy for Ronaldo, he's given his best for united fans for the 6 seasons he's been here, so i thank him for that and i think every old trafford faithful should realise that a child-hood dream, if near being realised, is more than someone would want to achieve and even me being a united fan for almost the past 9 years, and me being just a teenager, we will see more legendary figures comming in and go out of united, so we shouldn't be disheartened and as for people who think we won't perform this season, u guys are so wrong, i knw he was a 30 + goal figure for over past 3 seasons, but he isn't irreplaceable! Good Luck To Ronaldo for the rest of the career! =)

Posted 07:33 7th July 2009

John Parker says...

Lack of commitment! What lack of commitment? This player has been quite consistent over the years and has sccored a greaat deaal of goals, not to mention 42 the season before last....two champs league, one of which he won...premier league honour(s)....it is time to conquer new horizons i say!

Posted 07:24 7th July 2009

Simon Speight (Manchester United fan) says...

As a Man Utd Fan i consider myself lucky to have seen this player take the field at Old Trafford in a Red shirt for so long. One day he could well be classed with the likes of Pele, Maradonna and if not that bracket, he will come very close. I think its amazing business as while his talent is undeniable, he has always had a selfish attitude (which at times made him unplayable), which over last season saw him become a pettey spoilt child... i hope this move sorts him out. I know the money we have recieved will more than cover his departure and give Rooney the freedom to dominate world football, look out Premiership

Posted 07:21 7th July 2009

Ronald Omia (Arsenal fan) says...

Seeing my namesake Ronaldo rise through the ranks was a really delight to even fans opposing fans like me. At such a young age with such achievement already surely the sky is the limit for him. he has a great cool headed coach in palegrini who i believe will add some steel to his style of play. And contrary to what some ungrateful Man U fans are prophessying,Ronaldo you are destined for greatness.. Go Go RONALDO GO.. But this will equally come with focus on the game ,He (Ronaldo) should never be blind folded with the enthusiastic fans blinker support

Posted 06:50 7th July 2009

Arif Koushik (Manchester United fan) says...

It would have been no greater time to let a player go to fulfill his dream. He was showing the signs of letting his ego get better than him, and yesterday's reception will only fuel his ever growing ego. As a club United will do much better without him as United's philosophy has never been depending on a single player. A team with a dedicated team players can do much better than a team with a lot of star names in its team sheet possessing big egos. I'm not undermining his footballing capabilities though, he won a lot of matches for us. But the die-hard winning mentality has always been instilled whether or not we had any potential galactico. Thank you CR. In your transfer, all the parties are initially benefited. However, between the two clubs, I can only see one club going even downhill, and that is not Manchester United.

Posted 06:18 7th July 2009

Crispin Nisbett says...

Finally he's left for his dream club now i would love it if my felow United fans stop moaning about him leaving. The Red flag will keep flying hihg

Posted 05:55 7th July 2009

Pranay chandra reddy Gangidi (Manchester United fan) says...

January, year 2003- 18 year old signed for £12.24 million July, year 2009- 24 year old sold for £80 million In the past 5 years at Manchester United Cristiano Ronaldo has become a magician with the ball. A transfer like this doesn't show diappointment but shows the quality of the Red Devils training and thus the pride of playing for Manchester United. He will be a tough spot to replace, i agree but sir alex has won us 8 premier leagues and 5 FA cups and a Uefa Champions league trophy even before C.Ronaldo was present at United. Thus, we have full faith in Sir Alex's ability as the most successful manager in the world. We bid Cristiano Ronaldo farewell with pride as its every superstars dream to end their career at Real Madrid...

Posted 04:17 7th July 2009

Guru Iyer says...

Ronaldo has played his part and gone for good. I think Man Utd. need not fear the exit of Ronaldo. With the exit of Ronaldo the game will open up and Man Utd. will do better than before. The same thing happened when Ruud Van Nistelrooy left for Real Madrid.All the very best to Ronaldo for his contribution to Man Utd.

Posted 03:40 7th July 2009

Michael Sheehan (Manchester United fan) says...

Obviously Ronaldo's heart wasn't with United anymore so £80m is a grab. I think Fergie will go back to the old way of playing 4-4-2 with Berbatov coming good with more delivery from the wings just like Cantona and Van Nistlerooy did. And just for Steven William's comment about United fans being glory hunters? Every Liverpool fan is dillusional... if they had won ALL the trophies United have won then it would be Liverpool that foreign glory hunters would be supporting and not United. United HAVE a home fan base plus foreign glory hunters! If they won enough trophies like Madrid, Barcelona and United in this era then they would see the difference!! Champions win fans, its a known trend in every sport!

Posted 02:19 7th July 2009
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