6 Jul 2009 22:40:28
Related Links
Teams
* Portugal
* Real Madrid
Players
* Cristiano Ronaldo
The Bottom Line
Cristiano Ronaldo, with around 75,000 fans eating out of his hand, was presented to the Santiago Bernabeu crowd today, and was given the number 9 shirt.
That, of course, is the number worn by the 'original' Ronaldo, the Brazilian forward. He, too, had simply Ronaldo on the back of his shirt, just as Cristiano controversially wore this evening.
Florentino Perez, basking in the glow of the assembled fanbase, gave his customarily hyperbolic speech before presenting Ronaldo, who spoke in slightly briefer fashion.
However, the Portuguese, every inch a superstar, made up for in chutzpah what he lacked in oratory by conducting the crowd in a three-two-one 'Hala Madrid'. His attempted ball skills to follow, though, betrayed a hint of nerves.
How It Happened
Reports out of the Spanish capital have it that fans began gathering around the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, its bars, its metro station, as early as nine o'clock in the morning.
With Cristiano Ronaldo having risen early for his medical, the hospital where he underwent tests was also mobbed by a youthful band of supporters.
But this was nothing compared to the scenes inside the stadium as presentation time approached. Kaka may have attracted 50,000, but Cristiano Ronaldo brought 75,000 to the stadium, with sources such as Radio Marca even saying it was closer to 80,000. This would, if true, eclipse the 75k summoned by Diego Maradona to Napoli.
The green track visible in the above image was a sort of 'red carpet' for Ronaldo to use to visit all corners of the pitch. This he did, but as he disappeared down the tunnel, there was a pitch invasion, as described by our man in Madrid, Goal.com's Juan Lirman:
"From my vantage point there were more than just a few. It wasn't five, ten or twenty. It was around a hundred that charged, catching security completely by surprise, and one broke through. Thankfully nothing serious happened, but what a shock that was!
What followed was a lengthy press conference, the highlights of which were:
* "I never said i did not like to play as a striker. I am not used to it. I prefer to play on the wing. But if I have to play as a striker, it's okay. Just have to get used to it."
* "I am happy to be the most expensive player in the history of football, it makes me proud, and I will show they were right to pay that figure for me."
* "Sir Alex? Our farewell was very good, I have a very good relationship with him and it will always be like that, I went to Manchester, talked to him, and everything is fine, he is happy, I am happy, we have to move on now."
* "Ribery is a good player, I saw him at Bayern but my job is to do to my best, you have to ask the president if he'll come."
* Quizzed on who he thought was the best player in the world, Lionel Messi, Kaka or himself, Ronaldo said: 'Madrid.'
Ronaldo, whom Goal.com have in profile, still has everything to prove on the pitch regarding his price tag, but the energy he inspires in the crowd, particularly among the youth, is undeniable. Will that be enough to bring trophies as well as limelight back to Chamartin? Time will tell.
