Ever wonder what happened before Cristiano Ronaldo joined Real Madrid? If so, you are not alone. In fact, millions of football fans have wondered the same thing. Whether or not Ronaldo played for Manchester United or any other team, the answer is not as simple as you think. You need to know the team Ronaldo played for before he joined Real Madrid. To find out more, keep reading!
Cristiano Ronaldo’s career
Although he was a teenager when he joined Real Madrid, the Portuguese international began his career as a youth player. He played for his hometown club Androrinha since he was eight years old and later moved to Madeira, where he joined the Nacional. Ronaldo then moved to Sporting CP. In the same season, he won the Copa del Rey and a penalty.
After a successful spell at Sporting CP, the young soccer star was signed by Manchester United for PS12 million, an incredible price for a 16-year-old player. Ronaldo scored 33 goals in his first season, and went on to win the 2004 FA Cup and the Champions League. He later went on to win his first Ballon d’Or, which he won at the age of 23. At Real Madrid, he won 15 trophies and became the club’s all-time top scorer.
The Portuguese international has dedicated his life to football. He has played for Portugal, Spain and England and has won the Premier League, La Liga, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Club World Cup. Although Real Madrid have won 32 trophies in his career, there is still much more in store for the star. In addition to 86 La Liga goals, he has also won five UEFA Champions Leagues and the UEFA European Championship. Cristiano Ronaldo’s illustrious CV is filled with accolades.
While he has made history with Real Madrid, there is still a question mark about his future in the club. Was he better off playing for Juventus? Or did he make better use of his limited opportunities? You’ll have to decide for yourself. And remember, he’s only 22 years old! If he had stayed at Real Madrid, he’d be the first player to win five Champions League titles.
In November 2002, Ronaldo visited the Arsenal training ground. Arsene Wenger had a big interest in signing him. Gerard Houllier’s club, Formation, had also recommended the Portuguese to the manager. Then, in July 2003, Ronaldo’s performances for Sporting brought him the attention of Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson. Ferguson and his team-mates encouraged him to sign Ronaldo.
While at Manchester United, Ronaldo broke Telmo Zarra’s record of most goals in a season, scoring a goal every seven0.7 minutes. His impressive statistics received him widespread media attention. Several publications included him in their Top XI. The magazine Sports Illustrated rated him as one of the world’s best players. Despite his incredible stats, Ronaldo’s goal drought has caused him to be out of form for much of the season.
His time at Manchester United was a great one. The Portuguese forward broke the 20-goal barrier in the Premier League in 2006, and won his first league title. He was awarded the FIFPro Special Young Player of the Year award for his outstanding performances at Manchester United. On 14 January 2006, Ronaldo was sent off in a Manchester derby after kicking former teammate Andrew Cole. He later scored his third goal for Manchester United in a 4-0 win against Manchester City. Despite this setback, Ronaldo’s outstanding form continued and he was named FIFPro’s 2009 World Cup and Europa League MVP.
His career before Real Madrid
Before joining Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo enjoyed an impressive football career. He made his debut in 2002, when he scored two goals in a 3-0 win against Sporting Lisbon. However, the star was criticized for his poor sportsmanship at the 2006 World Cup. Ronaldo also had a long list of awards to his name. These include the PFA Young Player of the Year, the PFA Players’ Player of the Year, the Portuguese Footballer of the Year, the Sir Matt Busby Award and the Manchester United Players’ Player of the Year.
He started playing soccer at an early age and was keen on making it his career. He was a regular player at Androrinha since he was eight years old, and later moved to Nacional, a Portuguese club in his native Madeira. He also played for Sporting CP and a number of other clubs before moving to Real Madrid. The success of these teams led him to join the club he currently plays for — Real Madrid.
Growing up in a working-class neighborhood, Ronaldo began playing football when he was just eight years old. He was a member of amateur youth teams such as Andorinha and Nacional, and in 1995, he signed with Sporting CP and Nacional. He was the youngest of four children. As a child, Ronaldo’s parents did not support him at a young age, and he was expelled from school after assaulting a teacher.
Before joining Real Madrid, Ronaldo spent two years playing for Manchester United. He won the PFA Player of The Year award for the second time that year. He then faced controversies surrounding his transfer to Real Madrid, which led him to stay with Manchester United. He repeatedly assured the public that he had no intention of leaving the club. The controversies over Ronaldo’s transfer to Real Madrid were a major distraction for the star.
Aside from the glory of being part of the Real Madrid team, Cristiano Ronaldo has also left a strong legacy. His unveiled portrait at the Santiago Bernabeu, in Madrid, was followed by Alfredo Di Stefano and Eusebio. The Portuguese legend has scored 451 goals in 438 competitive appearances with Real Madrid, averaging over a goal per game. In all competitions, he scored in LaLiga, the Champions League, the Spanish Super Cup, and the UEFA Super Cup.
Before joining Real Madrid, Ronaldo played for Manchester United and earned a record for goals in his club’s history. Manchester United paid Ronaldo PS12 million, which is more than $14 million in U.S. dollars. He scored three goals in the 2004 FA Cup final to help the team win the championship. Real Madrid then went on to sign him for a record $131 million, making him one of the most expensive players in football history.
His career at Manchester United
In his first spell at Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo surpassed all expectations, going from an inexperienced winger to the best player on the planet. While he won back-to-back Ballons d’Or, he also won the Silver Boot as the second-highest scorer. He later led Portugal to their first major tournament title, the Euro 2016 and the UEFA Nations League. In 2019, he earned the Golden Boot as the top scorer of Euro 2020.
The Portuguese midfielder made his Manchester United debut on August 16, 2003, coming on as a substitute in the 61st minute. In this match, Manchester United scored four goals — two from Cristiano and two from Ruud van Nistelrooy. The 4-0 win was the first of Ronaldos career and was a major boost to the club’s title hopes. His first senior goal for Manchester United came in the 2003 FA Cup final, as a substitute.
In the following seasons, Ronaldo would help Manchester United win three Premier League titles, two FA Cups (2003-04), and two Football League Cups (2005-06 and 2008-09). In addition, he helped the club win the UEFA Champions League in 2008. After leaving Manchester United, he returned to Juventus and achieved superhuman levels of success. But his time at Manchester United was far from over.
The final season of Ronaldo’s Man Utd career was not a success for him. He was officially injured with a hip problem and did not make the team’s bench for the derby against Manchester City. The news shocked many people, including some Manchester City fans, who burned Ronaldo shirts. So what exactly happened? Let’s take a look at the facts behind his unexpected return.
While it is hard to believe, Ronaldo may be able to win the Premier League without Fergie, the former Chelsea manager’s three successors, David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, and Jose Mourinho, failed to do so. There are a few doubts, however. But he is on the way to becoming the first player to win six European Cups. And the best part is that his last game against Atletico Madrid is his favorite.
With more than a quarter of the Premier League season still to play, a new manager is expected to be appointed soon. The next step in Ronaldo’s career at Manchester United is rebuilding the team. But for now, the club are in a good position in the Champions League round-of-16 tie against Atletico Madrid. That said, the future is still uncertain, and Ronaldo must continue to find the right direction to help the club succeed.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s record-breaking record at Manchester United continues to grow. Ronaldo is the only player in Manchester United history to score thirty or more goals in a season. Only two players have scored more in a single season, Luis Suarez (31 goals) and Alan Shearer (31 in 1995-96).
After a spectacular career at Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, why did Cristiano Ronaldo opt to sign with Juventus? Some say he wanted to move away from the Serie A club and lure Manchester United back to the table. Others suggest he chose Juventus as the perfect pre-climax to a memorable career. The truth, of course, is somewhere in between. Here are some of the most interesting reasons why Ronaldo chose Juventus.
Cristiano Ronaldo chose Juventus because it’s the perfect pre-climax of his memorable career
Cristiano Ronaldo has made massive waves in football and celebrated his 36th birthday this week. The superstar has played for Juventus and Portugal and has scored nine penalties in the process. Many critics have accused him of being arrogant, selfish, and not a team player. Others have accused him of being too good, scoring too many penalties, and being too selfish. Is Cristiano Ronaldo really past his prime?
During his formative years with Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo was a sensation and earned international recognition. After leaving Manchester United, he transferred to the Spanish giants, Real Madrid, for a reported $132 million. Despite the money, he endured a turbulent time with his teammates, fans, and managers. He only won one La Liga title with Real Madrid, and he was overshadowed by a fierce rivalry with Barcelona.
Juventus’ recent results are testament to their stout defence. Ronaldo has been exceptional this season, scoring seven goals and seven assists in the Champions League. His double over Inter has had a massive psychological impact on the team. Juventus flexed their muscles in each game and punctured Inter’s perfect start under Conte. The return to Inter was a rematch of two games that Juventus won. However, it was a different story in the first match, with Juventus taking 22 points to Conte’s 21 against the rest of the top seven. In Serie A, Sarri and Conte were separated by one point, with Juventus retaining their title.
After retiring from football, Ronaldo has pursued various business interests. He has his own sports agency, a global entertainment agency, and several soccer schools. He has also purchased a sports team in Spain. And lastly, he recently bought the club Real Valladolid for a record $35 million. He is certainly a smart footballer who knows his abilities and where to maximize his opportunities.
He wanted to move away from Juve
While Juventus has elite talent, it is not on the same level as Manchester City, Chelsea or Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich. The Italian giants are not a household name in the soccer world, but they have some of the best players in the world, including Cristiano Ronaldo, who is already a five-time Champions League winner. With 134 goals and counting, Ronaldo already has the most UEFA Champions League goals in history.
The Italian giants have been linked with a summer move for Ronaldo, but that rumour isn’t official yet. It first surfaced just before the Euro 2021 finals, and Juventus needed to offload their star before that. In a move that is aimed at balancing the budget at the club, Ronaldo’s cars were spotted being transported from Turin. Ronaldo sent a heartfelt goodbye to his family and fans on Instagram.
The move will cost Manchester United an initial fee of EUR15 million, plus add-ons worth up to EUR8 million, giving Juventus at least EUR20 million. While Manchester United have a long list of talented players already, Ronaldo would give their squad a much-needed boost. Cristiano Ronaldo is most likely to join Manchester United next summer when his contract with Juventus expires. Manchester City are also interested in signing him, but the move is likely to be delayed until the summer, when they can sign Harry Kane, another top player.
Although Juventus have made progress under the guidance of former Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho, it is unlikely that Ronaldo will stay at the club for long. Juve could do with a boost in the Champions League competition. But the Portuguese superstar may choose to stay in Turin, which could be good news for the Italian club. In any case, the club would be missing out on a chance to win the Champions League.
He wanted to lure Manchester United back to the table
It seems that the Portuguese star had been thinking about joining United again and has made a few hints to that effect during the summer transfer window. The club did not start the summer transfer window with the intention of signing the forward. In fact, it was Ronaldo’s representatives, led by Jorge Mendes, who were gauging interest among the top European clubs, including Manchester United. If the Brazilian was to leave Juventus, they would have to pay an eye-watering fee to sign him.
According to reports, the player spent 40 minutes on the pitch saying goodbye to Juventus. While they allowed him to leave, they were not certain he would. Juve didn’t believe the club could sell Ronaldo and feared PSG would come in and take him. It was also unclear whether Juventus would take United seriously and sell Mbappe in order to recoup the EUR28m that they had lost to Real Madrid. However, this didn’t prevent Ronaldo from deciding to return to United.
Although it seems unlikely that Ronaldo will leave United, his former club, Manchester City, had a history of luring him back to their club. Despite being a flop at Manchester City, the Portuguese star is fond of United and has maintained relationships with many players and staff. After his win in Turin, a United staffer talked about his respect for the club and the fans.
Aside from his desire to sign for Juventus, United have also been linked with other clubs. Liverpool and Chelsea have both been linked with Ronaldo. While United could have chosen to extend his contract, United will have to pay PS85 million to bring the star to the club. Regardless of his desire to join another club, the club’s current problems must be addressed first before signing him.
It’s the perfect pre-climax of his career
If it is a coincidence that Cristiano Ronaldo has joined Juventus, it is no longer a surprise. The Portuguese forward was a trainee at the Lisbon club Sporting and is now one of the world’s most expensive players. After leaving Real Madrid, Ronaldo transferred to Juventus. While many fans thought he’d be better at the mighty Real, Manchester United and PSG, this move was an example of how a smart footballer can take advantage of the opportunities available.
Last season, Ronaldo had his best season ever, breaking his own record for goals and assists. However, the real magic of his season came during the first half, when he was at his very best for Real Madrid. He made no mistakes and scored many goals, while he was able to showcase his great talent. Unfortunately, Ronaldo has been unable to repeat the feat in the remainder of the season, but that’s not a reason to give up on the former Real Madrid star.
Despite the fact that his knee injury has slowed him down a bit, Ronaldo remained focused and positive. After the match, he was still able to make a difference for his team. His reaction to being substituted after half-time sparked rumours of unrest among his teammates. In fact, Sarri’s comments in the press conference revealed that Ronaldo was carrying a knee injury.
Despite the fact that Real Madrid were a dismal 4-0 away from home last week, Ronaldo did not do much in terms of his overall performance. His standards are still very high but he was ineffective. Against PSG, he was a shadow of his former self. Rather than trying to force the ball into the net, Ronaldo often looked as if he was a faraway figure, chasing defenders and stretching the PSG back line.
It provides symmetry to his career
Despite being a world-class player, Cristiano Ronaldo has struggled for consistency and fitness, and he’s had a few injuries in recent months. Atletico Madrid’s manager Diego Simeone has made a significant change to the team. Ronaldo has expressed a desire to return to his former club. He also revealed that he’s been thinking about returning to his native Portugal when his time among the elite is over.
