Ronaldo Read online

  ‘One of Ronaldo’s lesser known virtues is his courage and bravery,’ Ferguson said of his star player a few weeks earlier. ‘Courage in football, as in life, manifests itself in different ways. But the courage to move forward, no matter how many times he is going to be kicked, identifies Ronaldo. Very few players have that level of courage. Some believe the greatest courage in football is the courage to win the ball. The other kind of courage – and it’s a moral courage – is the courage to keep the ball. That’s what Ronaldo has. All the great players had it.’

  After such a showering of praise, Cristiano concedes that he is extremely happy at Man United and that the club feels like home. ‘I’m ambitious. I have a strong personality and I want to follow in the footsteps of other great players, winning both individual and team trophies,’ he concludes.

  On 21 December 2008 there is another team trophy to lift as Cristiano Ronaldo & Co. triumph in the FIFA World Club Cup at the Yokohama stadium in Japan. Man United have beaten South American Copa Libertadores champions LDU Quito 1-0 in the final, thanks to a goal from Wayne Rooney in the 72nd minute.

  And on 12 January 2009 Ronaldo cements his status as best footballer in the world when he wins the FIFA World Player of the Year award – the votes from the managers and captains of 155 national teams reaffirming France Football’s Ballon d’Or choice. The presentation gala at the Zurich Opera House opens with footage of the five finalists in action. Images of the top footballers doing tricks with the ball flash across the screen: 2007 winner Kaká, Leo Messi, Cristiano, Fernando Torres and Xavi Hernández.

  The honour of presenting the trophy to the winner falls to Pelé. He goes up on stage, tripping slightly on the step, and picks up the envelope with the winner’s name inside. Speaking into the microphone, he admits that he is more excited than the candidates in the seats of honour. He opens the envelope and takes a look at the name, but before revealing it to the audience he says that he has a little story to tell. ‘Last year I presented the trophy to Kaká. Afterwards I shook Cristiano’s hand and I told him in Portuguese: “Next year I’ll be giving it to you.”’ He lifts the card and softly announces: ‘Cristiano Ronaldo.’

  The number 7 smiles, gets up, buttons his dark jacket and heads towards the stage. He hugs ‘O Rei’ Pelé and lifts the 2008 trophy. Another film clip of his best moments plays in the background, and then it is time for him to speak. He moves away from the table where Pelé’s envelope is lying, takes the microphone, and folds his arms waiting patiently for a question from the hosts. ‘The audience is all yours,’ they tell him.

  ‘This is a very special moment in my life, very exciting,’ he says in Portuguese. ‘First of all I have to thank my mother, my father, my family and friends, Jorge … I don’t have to name everyone, they know who they are. I would also like to dedicate this to my team-mates. Without them I would not have been able to win this trophy’ – he looks down at the trophy, beaming. ‘I am very happy, today is one of the happiest days of my life. I hope I get to come back here again one day. Thank you. Thank you very much.’

  The audience bursts into applause. Presenter Sylvie Van der Vaart, wife of former Real and current Tottenham player Rafael, announces: ‘Cristiano Ronaldo is the FIFA World Player of 2008. He has won with 935 votes. Messi received 678, Torres 203, Kaká 183 and Xavi 155.’ As Sylvie says, he is ‘the best footballer in the world’.

  Chapter 16

  Rome

  ‘I want to win so I can make history.’

  ‘It is the dream final,’ says Ryan Giggs. ‘United and Barcelona are two massive clubs, with massive histories, who play football the right way and who have so many great individuals.’ The Welshman knows a thing or two about the Champions League, having won two finals with Man United – one against Bayern Munich, and one against Chelsea just the previous year. The Rome final against Barcelona on 27 May 2009 is the most hotly anticipated match in European football, the best possible line-up with two teams that will undoubtedly put on the best show on the continent.

  The final pits the La Liga title-holders and 2006 European champions against the Premier League kings and current European champions. It also brings managers Sir Alex Ferguson and Pep Guardiola face to face. The former, born in 1941, boasts an exceptional list of achievements and infinite experience. The latter, born in 1971, is this season’s success story.

  It is also a contest between two teams bursting with talented footballers. Starting for Barcelona are Valdés, Puyol, Touré, Piqué, Sylvinho, Busquets, Iniesta, Xavi, Messi, Henry and Eto’o, while Man United boasts Van der Sar, O’Shea, Ferdinand, Vidić, Evra, Anderson, Carrick, Giggs, Park, Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo.

  What’s more, it’s the match the press are selling as the big duel between Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi. But CR7 dismisses the hype. ‘Messi is a great player, but tomorrow it’s about Barcelona and Manchester United,’ he says the night before the match. Leo agrees, saying that to focus on an individual duel ‘would be disrespectful to two great teams – the two teams who are currently playing the best football. Two teams who have many other players who can be decisive.’

  But Cristiano versus Messi dominates the discussion. Even Sir Alex Ferguson weighs in on it, although he can’t decide: ‘They’re both fantastic players who can create and score goals, both of them. When great players get to that level, it’s all about the small details. One of them could have an off-night on the night. Other than that, what can you say about such good players?’ The press maintain that in Rome, CR7 and the Flea will be playing for the 2009 Ballon d’Or.

  ‘Whoever wins may well have a better chance,’ concedes Ronaldo, ‘but that’s not important. What I really want is to win the Champions League.’ It would be United’s second consecutive win and, to use Cristiano’s words, they would ‘go down in history’. Since the Champions League was created, no team has won two years running.

  Cristiano is coming off a better-than-average season. He has played in 53 games and scored 26 goals, including eighteen in the Premier League and four in the Champions League. Before coming to Rome, Manchester United retained their spot as kings of England with a four-point lead over Liverpool in the league, and on 1 March they beat Spurs in the League Cup Final at Wembley. The only title that slipped through their fingers was the FA Cup, from which they were knocked out on penalties by Everton in the semi-final.

  It hasn’t been as strong a season for Cristiano as the previous one, but he is the current Ballon d’Or holder and he wants to show that he can still take on Messi, who has scored eight Champions League goals, 23 in La Liga and has been decisive in the Spanish title race and Barça’s Copa del Rey triumph.

  Kick off at the Stadio Olimpico is at 20.46.

  First minute: Yaya Touré takes down Anderson. First free kick of the match. It’s more than 35 yards from Barça’s goal. Five steps back as usual, Cristiano Ronaldo balances on his left foot … then shoots. The ball spins through the air and deflects off the chest of Víctor Valdés, who fails to control it. Piqué desperately blocks Park’s rebound shot at the post. CR7 buries his head in his hands.

  Man United put the pressure on, pushing forward into their opponents’ half and Barça are struggling to find their feet. Ronaldo is exceptional – the driving force behind United’s game.

  Seventh minute: Cristiano shoots from almost 40 yards, but it’s just wide.

  Eighth minute: after a good back-and-forth between Anderson and Evra, Ronaldo takes a left-footed shoot which is just wide of Barça’s right post.

  It seems as if United have Barça on the back foot. But looks can be deceiving. In the tenth minute Eto’o gets past Vidić in the box and his shot is too good for Van der Sar. It’s 1-0 to Barça.

  Thirteenth minute: a dud pass by Messi puts Man United on the counterattack. Cristiano receives a long pass and storms towards the goal. Gerard Piqué tries to body block him, earning himself a yellow card.

  Eighteenth minute: Pep Guardiola is playing Messi as a false nine in an a
ttempt to disrupt United’s defensive line. ‘It surprised us and made it extremely difficult for us,’ Ferguson will say later. The Flea takes off from the right hand side of the pitch, heads towards the centre and takes a left-footed shot from 33 yards, which just skims over the bar.

  Twentieth minute: Cristiano is on the back foot. He has got one past Touré with a bicycle kick but when it comes to the finish he is out of position – the angle is too awkward. He has to make do with a pass to Wayne Rooney.

  22nd minute: United corner. Giggs aims it towards the far post. Cristiano goes up for the header, but he puts it just over the bar. It is the sixth shot in 22 minutes from the number 7. He seems ready and willing to win the game alone if necessary.

  36th minute: Touré blocks a run from Cristiano.

  41st minute: this time it’s Valdés who blocks a run, coming off his line and powering towards the Portuguese like a steam train.

  42nd minute: Sir Alex switches Rooney and Ronaldo. The Portuguese is now on the right wing, Rooney is in the centre, and Giggs goes up the left hand side. But it doesn’t make a difference: Barça are still in control.

  44th minute: great run by Messi from inside his own half, dodging past numerous United players. His shot almost from the halfway line looks worrying for Van der Sar.

  46th minute: Cristiano moves up front with Carlos Tévez, who has just come onto the pitch.

  55th minute: great pass from Rooney. Ronaldo misses by a whisker. Barcelona are still in control. Xavi’s free kick is dangerously close but deflects off United’s right goal post.

  59th minute: another offside for Ronaldo after a cross from Michael Carrick on the left wing.

  65th minute: Cristiano spoils a United counterattack, messing up a diagonal pass into the centre.

  68th minute: Carrick’s pass to CR7 is too long. The number 7 is getting desperate.

  70th minute: Xavi recovers the ball after a deflection from the United defence. He heads for the box, looks up and unleashes a spinning cross, smooth and precise. With his back to the defenders, Messi ascends to the Roman heavens, leaping high into the air and heading the ball towards the post, just as the goalie dives the wrong way. At 1.69 metres, the smallest player on the pitch has jumped the highest. It’s 2-0.

  72nd minute: Víctor Valdés gets a hand to a jaw-dropping shot from Ronaldo, a failed attempt to close the gap.

  73rd minute: referee Massimo Busacca lets Cristiano’s frustrated foul on Carles Puyol slide.

  78th minute: Cristiano is becoming more irritable. He’s tired and bored. He argues with Rooney and receives a yellow card for swinging his arm at Puyol when he had no way of reaching the ball. It’s a pointless foul.

  After three minutes of injury time, the final whistle goes and Barça have won their third Champions League title. The Blaugrana fans celebrate. Leo Messi is the first to hug Guardiola.

  Cristiano Ronaldo has missed out on the history-making win he wanted so badly. When he goes up to collect his medal from UEFA president Michel Platini, the hissing and booing is audible – the Barça fans already see him as a symbol of Real Madrid, who have been actively pursuing him. Later in his suit, and still hurting, he will say: ‘It wasn’t a match between Messi and me, but his team was better than us, and he was too because he scored.’

  Leo Messi hugs and kisses the trophy adoringly, takes it on a lap around the pitch and celebrates with his team-mates, friends and family. ‘I feel like the happiest man in the world,’ he says.

  Sometime later Cristiano will explain: ‘I was very fragile that night. I was on the verge of crying on the pitch in front of millions of TV viewers. I hate losing, especially in a final like that.’

  It’s his last final in a Man United shirt.

  Chapter 17

  £80 million

  ‘I realise it’s got people talking, but it makes me feel proud to be the most expensive player in footballing history.’

  ‘Manchester United have received a world-record, unconditional offer of £80 million for Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid. At Cristiano’s request, who has again expressed his desire to leave, and after discussion with the player’s representatives, United have agreed to give Real Madrid permission to talk to the player. Matters are expected to be concluded by June 30. The club will not comment until further notice.’

  At 9.30am on 11 June 2009, Man United effectively accept Real Madrid’s offer of £80 million with this statement released on the official club website.

  Shortly afterwards, Real releases an official statement confirming that it has ‘made an offer to Manchester United to acquire the player Cristiano Ronaldo’ and that the club ‘hopes to reach an agreement with the player in the next few days’.

  Cristiano Ronaldo hears the news at 2am while on holiday in Los Angeles when Jorge Mendes calls him to update him on what is happening. One of the first things CR7 does is call his mother Dolores to tell her the good news. Shortly afterwards he makes his first statement. ‘I have had my time at Man United. Now I can look forward to Real Madrid and a new stage in my career. This deal is historic. £80 million is quite a sum of money.’

  It certainly is a large sum of money, the most that has ever been paid for a footballer. Cristiano is now at the top of an illustrious list (in an approximate figure of Euros for comparison purposes):

  Cristiano Ronaldo: Manchester United to Real Madrid (2009) – 94 million Euros

  Zinedine Zidane: Juventus to Real Madrid (2001) – 75 million Euros

  Kaká: Milan to Real Madrid (2000) – 63 million Euros

  Luís Figo: Barcelona to Real Madrid (2000) – 61 million Euros

  Hernán Crespo: Parma to Lazio (2000) – 56 million Euros

  Gaizka Mendieta: Valencia to Lazio (2001) – 48 million Euros

  Rio Ferdinand: Leeds to Manchester United (2002) – 47 million Euros

  Andriy Shevchenko: Milan to Chelsea (2006) – 46 million Euros

  Juan Sebastián Verón: Lazio to Manchester United (2001) – 46 million Euros

  Ronaldo Nazário da Lima: Inter Milan to Real Madrid (2002) – 45 million Euros

  On top of the £80 million transfer fee, Cristiano will receive an annual net salary of 9.5 million Euros, while his agent Jorge Mendes will receive a ten million Euro commission. Every aspect of the deal is record-breaking and is enough to fill the front pages of the international press, not to mention provoke a wave of reactions and comments – some critical, others merely astonished.

  Gordon Brown tells the BBC: ‘He’s one of the most brilliant players in the world. I think people will be sad that he’s lost to the game in England. At the same time, I know Sir Alex Ferguson well, and I know he’ll have plans that will be rebuilding and renewing his team. And I would expect that Manchester United and English football will emerge not weaker, but emerge in a new way and probably stronger in the long run.’

  While the prime minister is keen to focus on the sporting aspect, minister for sport and tourism Gerry Sutcliffe celebrates United’s exceptional business deal and comments on the politics of transfers with Madrid and the future of the industry. ‘We saw Madrid spend £59 million on Kaká from AC Milan just recently and that’s why we’ve written to the Premier League and to the Football Association – and we are concerned about the sustainability of the game. They are big businesses now and this type of money is around but we’ve got to make sure that there’s a link and … sustainability for this because we don’t want to see clubs go to the wall.’

  ‘These transfers are a serious challenge to the idea of fair play and the concept of financial balance in our competitions,’ declares UEFA president Michel Platini, who considers Real Madrid’s offer excessive and ‘very puzzling at a time when football faces some of its worst ever financial challenges’.

  By contrast, FIFA president Sepp Blatter praises such deals: ‘This is an example of a fantastic investment – there may be a global financial crisis, but football is still on the rise.’ Manchester City manager Mark Hughes is of a similar
opinion, saying that it ‘stimulates the market’. He adds: ‘There is a lot of money out there now and the amount needed in order to attract the best players in the world is enormous.’ Regarding his rivals’ recent deal he says: ‘Manchester United should celebrate having signed a great deal. Sir Alex Ferguson makes key decisions very quickly. He has made what he thinks is the right decision for the club and we have to respect that.’

  Adriano Galliani, on the board at AC Milan (which sold Kaká to Real), is convinced that ‘Cristiano’s signing is yet another example of the fact that, thanks to its financial strength, Spanish football has become the best in Europe’. In Spain, Barça vice-president and director of marketing Jaume Ferrer insists that ‘there is no player in the world worth 94 million Euros’, explaining that the figure is ‘not in line with the current market. When you pay such high prices it allows other clubs to demand enormous figures. It can cause a sharp inflation in the market.’

  Spain’s sport secretary of state Jaime Lissavetzky washes his hands of the whole affair: ‘The astronomical prices paid for some of these players is a private matter for the clubs: it has no bearing on public coffers,’ he explains.

  Only one man can end this debate: Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez, the man responsible for shaking up the market by signing 2007 Ballon d’Or winner Kaká and 2008 Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano. A few days later he signs French striker Karim Benzema for 35 million Euros, and offers the final word on the subject: ‘The signings which seem the most expensive are in fact the cheapest.’

  What does he mean by that? According to the club’s directors, Ronaldo and Kaká – along with Messi – are in fact the players that generate the most income.