ON THIS DAY in 2009, Cristiano Ronaldo was unveiled as Real Madrid’s most expensive signing at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.
It was until Gareth Bale joined the Spanish side that made the Portuguese ace lose the tag of being the most pricey in the world. At the moment, it’s Paul Pogba as Juventus somehow managed to convince Manchester United to pay up 100 million euros for their former academy graduate.
On this day in 2009, Cristiano Ronaldo was unveiled by Real Madrid.
394 games. 406 goals. 125 assists. 11 trophies. £80M bargain. pic.twitter.com/dj4i20TWvb— Football RULES ⚽ (@AL95Football) July 6, 2017
Anyway, to most Red Devils, Cristiano’s presentation at the Bernabeu was the sour icing on what they term as the greatest-ever swindle as far as world football is concerned. And considering the inflated values of above average players in this current transfer market, their sentiments are totally justified.
£75m for Lukaku uno. I swear the prices of footballers are stupid these days considering Ronaldo only went for £80m. Madrid got a bargain
— ALEXIS L’A KHARODIA (@MKHAZORLA11) July 6, 2017
The four-time Ballon d’Or winner, who had only won his first at the time, completed his switch in a deal worth 94 million euros. Aside the mouth-watering figure Florentino Perez flaunted for his signature, the Whites held what is arguably the biggest player presentation ceremony in the club’s history.
The Madridistas who filled up the sacred home ground could have easily made one mistake the event to be, probably, a Justin Beiber musical concert. It was almost foreseen that about 50 pitch-invaders chased the then 24-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo down after majestically gracing the podium to greet the matchday inhabitants of his new home.
As we reminiscent the day that officially authored the first chapter of the history we are relishing now, let us take a look at an excerpt from Cristiano Ronaldo’s speech on July 6, 2009.
“It was a happy goodbye,” he said. “Sir Alex Ferguson knew I always wanted to play for Madrid. I went to Manchester and spoke with him and he was happy. The fans, my team-mates and friends, and Sir Alex understand my decision. This is my dream. We were joking about me playing against Manchester United in the final at the Bernabeu. He said he would set Patrice Evra against me to kick me out of the game. When I said I would stay at United in June, it was because there was no reason to believe I wouldn’t. But things change, presidents, people’s opinions, everything. The clubs reached an agreement and now I’m here, and I’m very happy.”
Obviously, Real Madrid has gotten more value for the money they paid to Manchester United for Cristiano Ronaldo. His arrival, although didn’t yield instant success, has ensured that Los Blancos return to the glory days they so missed after the evanescence of their ‘Galactico’ squad.
