On November 22, Real Madrid visited Sporting Lisbon for the fifth game in the Champions League group stages but this game is more special for one player, Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese superstar returns to the ground where it all started for him back in 2003. Coming through the ranks at the Portuguese outfit, Ronaldo came to prominence in the 2003 summer friendly game against Manchester United. There were already rumours about Ronaldo’s departure to Europe’s top clubs, but the friendly possibly paved the way for the player’s immense rise in the last decade.
Gary Neville, one of the accomplished right backs in the world, says that Ronaldo’s performance against United in the friendly game was bewildering. He said that he did not expect such a performance from a teenager. Ronaldo was going up against John O’Shea at right flank. Regarded as a solid defender at that time, O’Shea struggled to cope with the youngster time and time again. O’Shea was made to look so poor that Sir Alex Ferguson had to take him off at half-time.
Rio Ferdinand has revealed the dressing room situation at half-time, and he says that O’Shea was just gasping for breath. According to Sky Sports, his autobiography read:
“Sheasy ended up seeing the doctor at half time because he was actually having dizzy spells.”
Giggs said: “He just lit up the game. All the lads were talking to him after the game and I remember we were waiting on the coach and everybody was wondering what we were waiting for. And then we just got a little whisper that the deal was being done.”
“You see Ronaldo get the ball, and you see him turn John O’Shea inside out, and you’re having a little giggle to yourself,” he admitted. O’Shea returned to the dressing room at half time exhausted.
A number of clubs where after Ronaldo, but Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson revealed that the Red Devils had been talking with the then-18-year-old for quite a while. Even then, there is no doubt that this friendly at the Estadio Jose Alvalade was a major factor in convincing Ferguson that a £12 million figure for the player was not significant for the talent at his disposal. His judgement indeed proved right, as Ronaldo went from strength to strength after moving to United in the summer.
A decade later, he was playing for Real Madrid as the world’s most expensive player. His trophy cabinet was rich with several Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League medals along with many others. Individually, he was honoured with titles like the PFA Player of the Year before going on to win the ultimate prize – FIFA Ballon d’Or award. There has been no looking back for Ronaldo since that friendly. It will undoubtedly be on his mind, as he steps onto the pitch looking to seal Real Madrid’s qualification to the knockout stages of the Champions League.
Of course, this will not be the first time he returns to the Estadio Jose Alvalade. Ronaldo has been back at this stadium once before, with none other than Manchester United, back in the 2007-08 season. Few would have bet against Ronaldo scoring against his former club, but it was exactly the case. Ronaldo’s memorable 40-yard strike against the Portuguese club was the only goal of the game.
