However a protracted, very long time in the past he was a mere thrilling prospect, picked up by Manchester United as a teen in the summertime of 2003.
The Sporting tyro had tantalised us all throughout a pre-season pleasant and Sir Alex Ferguson was additionally impressed with what he noticed.
He needed to have his man and signed Ronaldo, giving him his debut in our marketing campaign opener in opposition to Bolton Wanderers. Cristiano put in a efficiency which has gone down in folklore and the remaining, as they are saying, is historical past.
One other all-time nice, George Finest, was in attendance that day and, writing for United’s official journal shortly afterwards, he went on to foretell nice issues for the boy who adopted him because the Reds’ no.7.
Belief us, it’s like George – who handed away in 2005, earlier than Ronaldo actually bought into his stride – had seen what was coming, as he envisions future success and European triumphs…
