["Yet\tthat\twas\tnot\twhat\tRonaldo\tneeded. \u2018This\tboy\tsurprises\tus\tevery\tday,\u2019\tthe\tPortugal\tcoach\ttold\tthe\tother\tmembers\tof the\tmanagement\tteam\tin\tMoscow.\tHe\thad\tnot\timagined\tthat\tthe\tplayer\u2019s reaction\twould\tbe\tto\twant\tto\tplay. \u2018He\tstarted\tcalling\tme\t\u201cfather\u201d\tthat\tday,\u2019\trecalled\tan\temotional\tScolari. The\tmatch\twas\ta\tstrange\tone.\tThe\tmood\tin\tthe\tPortugal\tcamp\twas\treflected\tin the\tbuild-up.\tEveryone\tshared\tRonaldo\u2019s\tmourning,\tbut\tit\twas\tdifficult\tto\tshow him\tthe\temotional\tsupport\tthat\tthey\twanted\tto\tin\tthe\tpumped-up\tatmosphere\tof the\tdressing\troom. \u2018Act\tnormally,\tbe\tyourselves,\tdon\u2019t\tchange\twhat\tyou\talways\tdo,\u2019\tRonaldo\ttold the\tgroup,\taccording\tto\tone\tof\tmy\tsources:\the\tknew\twhat\tthe\tmedicine\twas\tfor the\tother\tfootballers\tat\tsuch\ta\ttime.\tCristiano\tstarted\tdoing\twhat\the\talways\tdid before\ta\tmatch:\tplaying\twith\ta\tball\tin\tthe\tdressing\troom.\tPassing\tto\ta\tteam-mate, doing\ta\ttrick\tor\ttwo\tand\tenjoying\tsome\ttechnical\tmaneuver\tto\trelieve\tthe\ttension and\tpain.\tFootball\talways\ttook\this\tmind\toff\tthings. He\tdid\this\tbest\tto\tscore,\tbut\tmaybe\tthe\t0\u20130\tdraw\tmirrored\thow\tit\tfelt\tto\tbe\ton the\tpitch\tbetter\tthan\tanything\telse. Ferguson\talso\toffered\thim\ta\tbreak,\tbut\tCristiano\tonly\tmissed\tone\tgame\tto\tgo\tto his\tdad\u2019s\tfuneral\tin\tMadeira. Scolari\tdecided\tto\tgive\thim\tthe\tcaptain\u2019s\tarmband\tfor\tthe\tfollowing\tgame, against\tBrazil\tin\tLondon.\t\u2018This\tboy\tis\tgoing\tto\tbe\tthe\tnumber\tone\tin\tthe\thistory of\tPortugal,\talthough\the\u2019s\tonly\ttwenty\tyears\told,\u2019\the\tannounced\tin\tthe\tpre-match press\tconference. He\tsaid\tit\tto\tencourage\thim,\tbut\talso\tbecause\the\tbelieved\tit. Ronaldo\tdoes\tnot\tlike\tspeaking\tabout\tdeath.\tAs\tif\tit\tis\tsomething\tthat\tdoes\tnot exist.\tAn\tunnecessary\tworry. Maria\tDolores\tonce\ttold\thim\tthat\tshe\twould\tdie\tone\tday\tand\twould\tnot\talways be\taround\tto\tprotect\ther\tchildren.\tThe\ttypical\tsort\tof\tcomment\ta\tmother\tmakes to\tremind\ther\tchildren\tthat\tshe\tis\tindispensable.","Cristiano\tcried\tlike\ta\tchild\tand\tchanged\tthe\tsubject. He\tdoes\tbelieve\tin\tlife\tafter\tdeath,\tthough.\tAs\tif\the\tcould\tnot\tconceive\tthat\twe are\tso\tweak,\tso\tephemeral,\tthat\twe\twill\teventually\tjust\tdisappear. Another\tmessage\tfrom\tNorway:\t\u2018Toby\thasn\u2019t\tbeen\table\tto\tfind\tanything.\tHis\tlast hope\tis\tthat\tthe\ttape\tis\tat\this\tparents\u2019\thouse.\tHe\twon\u2019t\tbe\table\tto\tcheck\tuntil April.\tCan\tyou\twait?\u2019 Yes,\tof\tcourse.\tI\thad\tto\thear\tDinis.\tTo\tknow\thow\the\tspoke\tabout\this\tson. Cristiano\thas\tseen\tthe\tdamage\tthat\talcohol\tand\tdrugs\tcan\tdo\tclose-up.\t\u2018That\tis part\tof\twhat\thas\tcontributed\tto\thim\tbeing\twho\the\tis\ttoday,\u2019\tDolores\texplained\tin an\tinterview\tin\tl\u2019Equipe\tin\t2008. My\tfour\tchildren\thave\tseen\tthe\tdangers\tof\tdrug\taddiction\tfirsthand.\tBut Cristiano\u2019s\tonly\taddiction\twas\tfootball.\tIf\the\thadn\u2019t\tbecome\ta\tprofessional footballer,\the\u2019d\thave\tgot\tlost.\tHe\tprobably\twould\u2019ve\tresorted\tto\tdrugs\tor something\telse\tequally\tterrible.\tMany\tof\this\tfriends\tfrom\tthe\tvillage\thave succumbed\tto\tdrugs\tand\talcohol.\tOne\tof\tthem\trecently\tdied\tfrom\tan\toverdose. Despite\tall\tmy\tefforts,\tit\twould\u2019ve\tbeen\tdifficult\tfor\thim\tto\thave\ta\tstable\tlife\t.\t.\t. Fortunately,\the\thad\ta\tgift.9 Katia\tadmitted\tthat\tat\thome\tthey\thad\ta\trather\tinnocent\toutlook:\t\u2018As\tCristiano has\tmoney,\tmy\tfather\twill\tgo\tto\ta\tprivate\tclinic\tand\tdefinitely\tbe\tcured.\tHe\u2019ll\tget over\tit.\u2019 They\tsuddenly\tdiscovered\tthat\tneither\tfame\tnor\tmoney\tcould\thalt\tthe\ttide\tof fate. Hugo\texplained\tthat,\tafter\tDinis\u2019s\tdeath,\tRonaldo\ttold\tthe\tfamily:\t\u2018My\tmoney hasn\u2019t\tmanaged\tto\tsave\tour\tfather,\tso\twe\u2019re\tall\tgoing\tto\tenjoy\tit.\u2019 Cristiano\twanted\tto\tkeep\tthe\timage\tof\tthe\tfather\twho\ttook\thim\tto\ttraining\tand gave\thim\tadvice.\tHe\tfilled\this\tManchester\thome\twith\tphotos,\toil\tpaintings\tand portraits\tof\tDinis\tAveiro. His\tfather\tdidn\u2019t\tlive\tto\tsee\thim\tachieve\tsuccess\tand\tglobal\tstardom.","Ronaldo\tthinks\tthat\tfate\tdetermined\tit\tthat\tway.\tLike\tall\tof\tus\the\tprefers\tanswers to\tmysteries. Someone\twho\tknows\tRonaldo\tvery\twell,\tand\twhom\tI\tcannot\tmention\t(so\tonce again\tI\tcan\tonly\ttell\thalf\tthe\tstory),\tsomeone\twho\tnever\tunderstood\twhy\the\tcried so\tmuch\teven\tlate\tinto\tadolescence,\tasked\tme\ta\tquestion:\t\u2018Did\tRonaldo\tstop crying\twhen\this\tfather\tdied?\u2019 This\tperson\tdid\tnot\ttell\tme\twhat\twas\thidden\tbehind\tthe\tquestion.\tMaybe\the\twas suggesting\tthe\ttears\twere\tthe\tproduct\tof\this\tbroken\thome.\tFollowing\tthat\tline, Ronaldo\twas\tsuffering\tdeep\tsadness\tbecause\this\tfather\thad\trelinquished\this\trole very\tearly\ton,\twhich\tmade\thim\tfragile\tand\tuncertain\tat\tdecisive\tmoments\tin\this life.\tDinis\tAveiro\u2019s\tdisappearance\tcould\thelp\thim\tsever\tlinks\twith\ta\tpast\the\twas not\tcomfortable\twith,\tsetting\thim\tfree\twithout\tbeing\tindebted\tto\tanyone. Obscure\ttheory,\tI\tknow.\tAnd\tI\tam\tnot\tsure\tthat\tis\twhat\tthat\tfriend\tof\this\twas trying\tto\ttell\tme.\tBut\tthe\tquestion\tintrigued\tme. I\thad\tto\tfind\tout\tif\the\thad\tcried\tsince\tSeptember\t2005. In\tthe\tend,\tToby\tdid\tnot\tfind\tthe\ttape\tin\this\tparents\u2019\thouse.\tI\thad\tto\tmake\tdo with\twatching\tthe\tsmall\tclip\tin\tthe\treport\tin\twhich\tyou\tsee\tDinis\ttalking\tto\tthe journalist\tabout\this\tson\u2019s\tchildhood.\tBehind\tthe\tvoice\tdubbing\thim,\tyou\tcan\thear a\tdeeper,\tslower\tone\ttalking\tabout\this\tson\u2019s\tdesire\tto\tbecome\ta\tfootballer.\tDinis, who\tappeared\tconfident,\tleaning\tagainst\ta\twall,\twas\tfilmed\tside-on.\tThe\tmodest surroundings\t(run-down\thouses,\tlots\tof\tweeds,\tclothes\tdrying\tat\twindows)\tsaid just\tas\tmuch\tas\tthose\tfew\tseconds\tof\tDinis,\twho\tin\tmy\teyes\tinstantly\ttook\ton\ta new\tdimension. He\twas\tno\tlonger\tsimply\ta\tdistant\tcharacter\tin\ta\tbiography. Cristiano\u2019s\tthird\tseason\tat\tUnited\t(2005\u201306)\twas\tbecoming\ta\tnew\tchallenge\tfor his\temotional\tstability. In\tOctober,\the\twas\tquestioned\tby\tpolice\tafter\ttwo\twomen\tmade\tallegations\tof rape\tagainst\thim.\tRonaldo\treported\tvoluntarily\tto\ta\tLondon\tpolice\tstation,\tan\tact","that\twas\tdescribed\tin\tthe\tBritish\tpress\tas\t\u2018arrest\u2019.\tA\tfew\tweeks\tlater,\this\tcousin Nuno\tAveiro\twas\talso\tinterrogated.\tRonaldo\twas\tnot\tcharged\twith\trape,\tas\tthere was\tinsufficient\tevidence\tagainst\thim.\tOne\tof\tthe\tyoung\tgirls,\ta\tFrenchwoman, eventually\twithdrew\ther\tallegation.\tIt\thad\tbeen\tinvented,\tan\texaggerated\tversion of\ta\tnight\tout,\tor\ta\ttrap\tby\ta\tprostitute\twith\ta\tknack\tfor\thunting\tout\tcelebrities, according\tto\tthe\tNews\tof\tthe\tWorld.\tIf\tthe\tvisit\tto\tDili\tand\tIndonesia\thad\tshown Ronaldo\tthe\tpower\tof\this\tglobal\tinfluence,\tthe\tincident\tin\tLondon\tshowed\thim the\tdarker\tside\tof\tinternational\tfame. He\tcould\ttrust\tno\tone. That\tconfusing\tcampaign\twas\ta\tmix\tof\tthe\tabsurd\t(a\tred\tcard\tagainst\tManchester City,\this\tthird\tfor\tthe\tclub,\tfor\tresponding\tto\ttough\ttackles\twith\ta\twild\tlunge\ton Andy\tCole;\tgiving\tthe\tBenfica\tcrowd\tthe\tfinger\tafter\tbeing\tsubstituted\tin\ta Champions\tLeague\tmatch)\tand\tthe\tbrilliant,\tespecially\tin\tlate\t2005\tand\tearly 2006. An\texample\tof\tthe\tlatter\twould\tbe\this\tbrace\ton\tNew\tYear\u2019s\tEve\tagainst\ta\tBolton side\tthat\thad\tno\tanswer\tto\this\tirresistible\tperformance.\tHe\tscored\this\tfirst trademark\tfree-kick\tagainst\tFulham\tin\tFebruary,\ta\tpowerful\tstrike\twith\tan unpredictable\ttrajectory\twhich\the\twould\tsoon\tbecome\tknown\tfor,\ta\tfitting reward\tfor\tthe\thundreds\tof\thours\ton\tthe\ttraining\tground\twith\tand\twithout\ta goalkeeper. Those\tdefining\tmoments\twere\ta\tsource\tof\tboth\tsatisfaction\tand\tfrustration:\twhy did\the\tnot\talways\tplay\tlike\tthat?\tWhile\tthat\telusive\tconsistency\twas\tsought, Ferguson\ttook\thim\tout\tof\tthe\tteam\tfor\tseveral\tweeks. Meanwhile,\tcracks\twere\tappearing\tin\this\trelationship\twith\tRuud\tVan\tNistelrooy. The\tDutchman\tneeded\tto\tscore;\tit\twas\this\tfuel\tand\tthe\tonly\tway\the\tcould\tkeep his\tposition\tin\tthe\tteam\tand\tamong\tsupporters.\tHe\thad\tgone\tfrom\trelying\ton David\tBeckham\u2019s\tpinpoint\tassists\tto\thaving\tto\tdepend\ton\tan\terratic\tyoung\ttalent. His\tgoalscoring\tpercentage\twas\twaning,\ttoo\t\u2013\tfrom\tthirty\tgoals\tin\t2003\u201304\tto sixteen\tin\tthe\tfollowing\tseason,\talthough\tinjuries\talso\tplayed\ta\tpart\tas\the\tmade just\ttwenty-seven\tappearances.\tThe\treturn\tof\tCarlos\tQueiroz\tfurther\tfuelled\tthe idea\tthat\tthere\twas\tsome\tlevel\tof\tfavouritism\ttowards\tthe\tPortuguese\tplayer. The\tclash\twith\tthe\tstriker\thad\treached\tsuch\tmagnitude\t\u2013\tlong\tsilences,\ttellings- off\tin\ttraining\tand\tthe\todd\tphysical\tskirmish\t\u2013\tthat\tsome\tmembers\tof\tthe coaching\tstaff\tand\teven\tveteran\tplayers\tthought\tthat\tRonaldo\t(whose","coaching\tstaff\tand\teven\tveteran\tplayers\tthought\tthat\tRonaldo\t(whose goalscoring\twas\tinconsistent,\twhose\tassists\twere\tnot\tprolific,\twho\tmade\ttoo much\tof\tfouls,\toverdid\tit\twith\ttricks\tand\tdid\tnot\ttrack\tback\tafter\tlosing\tthe\tball) would\tbite\tthe\tbullet. In\tmany\tpeople\u2019s\teyes,\this\tsettling-in\tperiod\twas\tlasting\ttoo\tlong. For\tthe\ttime\tbeing,\this\tperformances\twere\tnot\tjustifying\tQueiroz\u2019s\tinsistence\ton changing\ta\t4-4-2\tsystem\tinto\ta\t4-3-3\tone\tthat\twould\tbenefit\tthe\tPortuguese\tand also\tWayne\tRooney. Small\tchanges\twere\ttaking\tplace\tin\tthe\tclub\tculture,\tlike\tseeds\tgerminating\t\u2013 slowly\tbut\tinexorably. Gary\tNeville:\t\u2018Before\tcoming\tout\tfor\ttraining,\the\tand\tRio\twould\twarm\tup\twith\ta two-touch\tgame\tin\tthe\tdressing\troom.\tThey\twere\tso\tgood,\teven\tif\tthey\twere wearing\tsandals.\tIt\tcould\tlast\ta\tlifetime.\tPaul\tScholes\talso\tplayed\twith\tthem.\u2019 The\tPortuguese\tdisplayed\ta\tgreat\tknowledge\tof\this\tbody. Phil\tNeville:\t\u2018Ronaldo\tused\tto\tsay,\t\u201cToo\tmuch\twater\tkills\tthe\tplant.\u201d\tIn\ttraining, he\twould\tbe\tdoing\truns\twith\tus.\tWe\twould\tall\tgo\tat\tmaximum\tpace\tfor\tall\teight of\tthem.\tThat\tis\twhat\tyou\tare\tsupposed\tto\tdo.\tBut\the\twould\tblast\tsix,\tthen\the\u2019d calm\tdown\tfor\tthe\tlast\ttwo\tand\tfinish\tat\tthe\tback.\tHe\tknew\texactly\twhat\the wanted\tto\tdo\tto\tbe\tplaying\ton\tthe\tSaturday.\u2019 Yet\tdoubts\tremained. Gary\tNeville:\t\u2018Sir\tAlex\tFerguson\tmade\tall\tthe\tdecisions,\tbut\tI\tquestioned Ronaldo\u2019s\tperformance\tin\this\tmid-third\tyear.\tI\twas\tgetting\tto\tthe\tpoint\twhere\tI wondered\twhether\the\twould\tactually\tbe\ta\ttop\tplayer.\u2019 In\t2005\u201306,\tRonaldo\tscored\tnine\ttimes\tin\tthirty-three\tappearances,\ttwenty-four of\twhich\twere\tin\tgames\the\tstarted.\tOne\tof\tthe\tgoals\twas\this\tfirst\tEuropean\tstrike in\tthe\tChampions\tLeague,\tbut\tManchester\tUnited\twere\tunable\tto\tprogress\tfrom the\tgroup\tstage.\tAfter\tlosing\tto\tLiverpool\tin\tthe\tFA\tCup\tfifth\tround,\ta\tLeague Cup\tfinal\tagainst\tWigan\tin\tFebruary\tprovided\tthe\tclub\u2019s\tonly\tchance\tof silverware\tin\tan\totherwise\tbelow-par\tcampaign. Ronaldo\twas\tin\tthe\tstarting\tline-up\tfor\this\tthird\tfinal\tin\tthree\tyears.\tVan","Ronaldo\twas\tin\tthe\tstarting\tline-up\tfor\this\tthird\tfinal\tin\tthree\tyears.\tVan Nistelrooy\twas\tbenched.\tSaha\tscored\tone,\tRooney\ttwo\tand\tCristiano\tput\tthe cherry\ton\tthe\tcake\tin\ta\t4\u20130\tdemolition\tof\tthe\tLatics.\tAnother\ttrophy,\tanother step\tforward.\tIn\tFerguson\u2019s\topinion,\tand\tdeveloping\tRonaldo\u2019s\tsimile,\tit\twas just\tthe\tright\tkind\tof\twater\tfor\tthe\tplants. Supporters\twere\tnot\tso\tsure,\thowever.\tThere\twas\ta\tlingering\tfeeling\tthat\tUnited were\tlight\tyears\taway\tfrom\ta\tmega-rich\tChelsea,\twho\thad\tjust\twon\ta\tsecond league\ttitle\tafter\ta\tfifty-year\tdrought.\tThe\tRed\tDevils\tfinished\teight\tpoints behind\tthem,\tin\tsecond\tplace. That\tsummer,\twhile\tJos\u00e9\tMourinho\tsigned\tAndriy\tShevchenko\t(AC\tMilan), Salomon\tKalou\t(Feyenoord),\tMichael\tBallack\t(Bayern\tMunich)\tand\tAshley Cole\t(Arsenal),\tManchester\tUnited\tsold\tRuud\tVan\tNistelrooy\tto\tReal\tMadrid after\tthe\tDutchman\tlost\tthe\twar.\tHe\twas\tnot\treplaced\tby\ta\tstriker.\tThe\tonly squad\taddition\twas\tmidfielder\tMichael\tCarrick. Hardly\tenough\tto\tgenerate\texcitement. Roy\tKeane\thad\talso\tleft\tthe\tclub\tafter\tplaying\tfor\tAlex\tFerguson\tfor\ttwelve years.\tThe\tIrish\tmidfielder\u2019s\tdeparture\twas\tshrouded\tin\tcontroversy\tthat\tstill separates\thim\tfrom\this\tformer\tmanager\ttoday. Ferguson\twas,\tagainst\tpublic\topinion,\tworking\this\tmagic\tonce\tagain. Ferguson\tdid\tnot\tattach\texcessive\timportance\tto\tthree\tyears\twithout\ta\tleague title.\tTo\tuse\tthe\tanalogy\tof\tan\texpert\tgardener,\the\thad\tsown\tthe\tseeds\tand planted\tbulbs\tin\tthe\tfield\tand\twas\tnow\tnurturing\tthose\tplants\tand\tpreparing\tto put\tthem\ton\tdisplay,\twhile\tremoving\tthe\tweeds,\tthe\tones\tthat\tprevented\tothers from\tgrowing. In\tbotany,\tincidentally,\tthe\tconcept\tof\tweeds\tdoes\tnot\texist.\tIt\tis\tonly\tused\tin\tthe context\tof\tplant\tgrowing.\tFootball\tis\tthe\tsame.\tThere\tare\tno\tbad\tfootballers,\tjust those\twho\tdo\tnot\tfit\tin,\tfor\twhich\tFerguson\thad\tan\tincredible\teye. Before\tthe\tnew\tseason\tbegan,\tCristiano\tRonaldo\thad\tthe\tsmall\tmatter\tof\this\tfirst World\tCup. Portugal\thad\tfallen\tat\tthe\tfinal\thurdle\tat\thome\tin\tthe\tEuro\t2004\tfinal\tagainst Greece\tand\twere\ttherefore\tconsidered\tcontenders\tfor\tthe\ttournament\tin","Greece\tand\twere\ttherefore\tconsidered\tcontenders\tfor\tthe\ttournament\tin Germany.\tLuiz\tFelipe\tScolari\thad\tmanaged\tto\tbring\ttogether\ta\tcore\tgroup\tof quality\tplayers\t(Figo,\tNuno\tGomes,\tValente,\tPauleta)\tand\tthe\tspine\tof\tthe\tPorto side\tthat\twon\tthe\t2004\tChampions\tLeague\t(Deco,\tManiche,\tCarvalho, Costinha).\tOthers\tadded\tconsistency\t(such\tas\tPetit)\twhile\tRonaldo\tbrought\tto\tthe table\ta\tyouthful\tability\tto\topen\tup\tdefences,\tafter\tscoring\tseven\tgoals\tin\ta straightforward\tqualifying\tcampaign. Big\tPhil\thad\talso\tcreated\tthat\tteam\tspirit\tthat\tis\tso\tcrucial\tin,\tand\toften\tmissing from,\tthe\tPortugal\tnational\tteam. Ronaldo\tscored\tin\this\tsecond\tgame,\tagainst\tIran,\tas\tPortugal\tprogressed\tas group\twinners\tahead\tof\tMexico\tand\tAngola\tto\tset\tup\ta\tlast-sixteen\tclash\twith Netherlands.\tIt\twas\ta\tvery\tphysical\tcontest\tincluding\tfour\tsendings-off\tand sixteen\tyellow\tcards.\tRonaldo\tpicked\tup\tan\tinjury,\tbut\tPortugal\tprogressed\twith Maniche\tscoring\tthe\tonly\tgoal. An\tEngland\tside\twith\tBeckham,\tLampard,\tGerrard\tand\tRooney\twas\tup\tnext\tin the\tquarter-finals.\tSven-G\u00f6ran\tEriksson\u2019s\tteam,\twho\thad\tdispatched\tEcuador\tin the\tprevious\tround,\twere\tfavourites. With\tan\thour\tgone\tand\tthe\ttie\tgoalless,\tRooney\tgot\ttangled\tup\twith\tPetit\tand Carvalho\tin\tfront\tof\tthe\treferee.\tHe\tappeared\tto\tstamp\ton\tthe\tlatter\tin\tthe\tnether regions.\tIt\twas\tan\taccident\tin\tthe\tEnglish\tstriker\u2019s\teyes\twho\tlater\ton\tadmitted that\t\u2018it\tlooked\tworse\tthan\tit\twas.\u2019 While\tRooney\tapologised\tand\tprotested\this\tinnocence,\tRonaldo,\tafter\tsprinting to\tthe\tscene\tof\tthe\tcrime,\tasked\tArgentinian\tofficial\tHoracio\tElizondo\tfor\tan explanation.\tAnd\ta\tred\tcard. Heresy\tin\tEnglish\tfair\tplay. Rooney\tgave\this\tclub\tteam-mate\ta\tshove\tout\tof\tanger.\tAt\tthat\tmoment\tRonaldo was\ta\tPortugal\tplayer,\tnot\ta\tManchester\tUnited\tone.\tAnd\tnothing\tis\tbigger\tthan the\tWorld\tCup. Elizondo\tasked\tRooney\tto\tmove\taway\tfrom\tthe\tfallen\tCarvalho\tand\tput\this\thand in\this\tpocket. Rooney\tkept\tasking\tfor\tthe\tofficial\u2019s\tunderstanding.","Red\tcard. Soon\tafter,\tRonaldo\twas\tshown\ton\tcamera\tswiftly\twalking\taway. What\the\tdid\tnext\tlasted\tless\tthan\ta\tsecond,\tbut\tinflamed\tan\tentire\tnation. He\tlooked\tat\tsomeone\twho\twas\tdishing\tout\tinstructions. And\twinked. There\twas\tan\thour\tto\tgo,\tincluding\ta\ttense\textra-time\tperiod.\tThe\ttie\twould eventually\tbe\tdecided\ton\tpenalties.\tRicardo\tsaved\tthree\tfor\tthe\tfirst\ttime\tin World\tCup\thistory.\tRonaldo\tscored\tthe\tdecisive\tspot-kick. There\tmight\thave\tbeen\ttalk\tof\tEriksson\u2019s\ttroops\u2019\theroic\tperformance\twith\tten men.\tOr\tthe\tfact\tthat\tin\tthe\tfirst\thalf\tRooney,\tas\the\thimself\tadmitted,\thad\t\u2018tried to\tget\tRonaldo\ta\tyellow\tcard\tafter\ttelling\tthe\treferee\tthat\the\twas\tdiving\t.\t.\t.\tWhat I\tdid\twas\tjust\tas\tbad\tas\twhat\the\tdid.\u2019 Yet\tthe\tBritish\tpress\talready\thad\tthe\tperfect\tscapegoat\tfor\teverything. Absolutely\teverything. The\tmessage\tbehind\tthe\twink\twas\tcrystal\tclear\taccording\tto\tthe\tEnglish\tpress:\t\u2018I got\tinvolved,\tI\tgot\thim\tsent\toff,\tnow\twe\u2019ll\twin.\u2019 Cristiano\tsaid,\tthough:\t\u2018They\ttold\tme\tto\tpush\tfurther\tforward\tto\tmake\tthe\tmost of\tthe\tnumerical\tadvantage\tand\tthat\u2019s\thow\tI\tresponded\t[to\tthe\tinstruction].\u2019 Alex\tFerguson:\t\u2018The\tref\twas\tgoing\tto\tsend\tRooney\toff\tanyway,\tbut\tRonaldo\u2019s intervention\tdidn\u2019t\thelp.\u2019 Horacio\tElizondo:\t\u2018It\twas\tviolent\tconduct\tand\tthat\u2019s\twhy\the\treceived\ta\tstraight red\tcard.\tPeople\tcan\tsay\twhatever\tthey\twant,\tbut\tRonaldo\u2019s\tprotests\thad\tno influence.\u2019 Alex\tFerguson:\t\u2018Ronaldo\tregretted\twhat\the\tdid.\u2019","I\tam\tnot\tso\tsure\t.\t.\t. Ronaldo\tdid\twhat\tanyone\twould\thave\tdone.\tHe\thas\tsaid\tso\thimself. The\tfollowing\tday,\tthe\tSun\treported\tthat\tRooney\thad\tsaid\tin\tthe\tdressing\troom that\the\twanted\tto\t\u2018split\tRonaldo\tin\ttwo\u2019.\tIt\tfitted\tthe\tnarrative\tthat\thad\tbeen established\tin\tthe\tpress\tbox\tin\tGelsenkirchen:\tit\twas\tthe\tend\tof\tRonaldo\tat Manchester\tUnited,\the\twould\tnot\tbe\table\tto\tgo\tback\tto\tthe\tUnited\tKingdom\tand Rooney\twould\tnever\tforgive\thim.\tTheir\tprofessional\trelationship\thad\tbecome untenable. The\tstory\tdid\tnot\tquite\tgo\tlike\tthat,\thowever. Once\tin\tthe\tchanging\trooms,\tRonaldo\tlooked\tfor\tRio\tFerdinand. \u2018Rio,\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tmean\tit,\tI\tdidn\u2019t\twink\tlike\tthat.\u2019 \u2018Let\tme\tgo\tand\tget\tWazza,\u2019\tRio\tsaid. Then\tthe\tthree\tof\tthem\tchatted\tand\tdiscussed\tthe\tmatter\tjust\tafter\tthe\tmatch, despite\tblood\tstill\tboiling. \u2018The\tfans\twill\tbe\tgoing\tmad\tover\tthis\tone,\u2019\tRooney\twarned\tCristiano.\t\u2018They\u2019ll be\ttrying\tto\tmake\ta\tbig\tdeal\tof\tit,\tso\twe\u2019ll\tjust\thave\tto\tget\ton\twith\tthings\tas normal\tbecause\tthere\twill\tbe\ttalk\tabout\tit\tall\tsummer.\u201918 On\tthe\tcoach\tback\tto\tthe\thotel\tafter\tthe\tgame,\tRooney\tasked\tSteven\tGerrard what\the\tmade\tof\tit\tall. \u2018Honestly,\tWazza,\tif\twe\twere\tplaying\tSpain\tand\t[Liverpool\tteam-mates]\tXabi Alonso\tor\tLuis\tGarc\u00eda\twinked\tat\tthe\treferee\tor\tgave\ta\tsignal\tfor\tme\tto\tbe\tsent off,\tI\u2019d\tnever\tspeak\tto\tthem\tagain.\u201911 After\tscoring\tthe\tdecisive\tpenalty\tagainst\tEngland\tto\tsend\tPortugal\tinto\tthe World\tCup\tsemi-finals,\tRonaldo\tlooked\tup\tto\tthe\tsky\tand\traised\this\thand\tin tribute\tto\this\tfather. Gary\tNeville\tknows\tthe\trules\tof\tthe\tgame:\t\u2018You\twin\tsome,\tyou\tlose\tsome.\u2019 After\tthe\tshootout,\the\tdid\twhat\the\tdeemed\tmost\tsuitable\tconsidering\tthe\thistoric","After\tthe\tshootout,\the\tdid\twhat\the\tdeemed\tmost\tsuitable\tconsidering\tthe\thistoric moment\the\thad\tjust\texperienced:\the\theaded\tto\tthe\tPortugal\tdressing\troom\tto swap\tshirts\twith\tCristiano\tand\twish\thim\tluck. Portugal\twere\tknocked\tout\tby\tFrance\t1\u20130\tin\ta\ttight\tsemi-final,\twhile\tRonaldo was\tnamed\tthe\tthird\tbest\tyoung\tplayer\tof\tthe\ttournament\t(behind\tLukas Podolski\tand\tLuis\tAntonio\tValencia)\tat\ta\ttime\twhen,\tback\tin\tEngland,\tshirts with\tthe\tslogan\t\u2018I\thate\tRonaldo\u2019\tand\tdartboards\tbearing\this\tface\twere\tbooming in\tpopularity. Then\tcame\tthe\tthreatening\tletters. Cristiano\tseriously\tconsidered\tnot\treturning\tto\tManchester. Rooney\tand\tRonaldo\texchanged\tmessages\tover\tthe\tsummer.\tIn\tfact,\tFerguson believes\tthe\tEnglish\tstriker\u2019s\tattitude\twas\twhat\tsaved\ttheir\trelationship. Sir\tAlex\tspoke\tto\tRooney\tto\tencourage\thim\tto\tphone\this\tteam-mate\tfrom\ttime\tto time\tand\tthe\tplayer\tsuggested\ta\tjoint\tinterview\tas\tthe\tbest\tway\tto\tsilence\tthe hysteria.\tFerguson\tdid\tnot\tthink\tit\twas\ta\tbad\tidea,\tbut\tMike\tPhelan\tfeared\tit would\tappear\tboth\tprompted\tand\tartificial. Thinking\tabout\tit\tcarefully,\tit\twas\talso\ta\tmarvellous\topportunity\tfor\tSir\tAlex, was\tit\tnot?\tIt\tjust\thad\tto\tbe\tmanaged\tcarefully. Cristiano\tRonaldo\texpressed\this\tthoughts\tat\tthe\tstart\tof\tthe\tsummer.\t\u2018If\tthe situation\tdoesn\u2019t\tchange,\tI\tcould\tnot\treturn\tto\tManchester\tUnited.\tI\u2019ve\thad\tno support\tfrom\tthe\tclub\u2019s\tsporting\tdirector\tor\tmanager\ton\tthis\tmatter.\tThey should\u2019ve\tcome\tout\tin\tmy\tdefence,\tbut\tthey\thaven\u2019t.\u201911 Two\tclubs\twere\twaiting\tin\tthe\twings\tif\tthe\tsituation\twent\tpast\tthe\tpoint\tof\tno return.\tHe\tsaid\tso\thimself:\t\u2018Real\tMadrid\tor\tBarcelona?\u2019\tIt\twould\tbe\tone\tof\tthe two. Cristiano\twent\ton\tholiday\twith\tJorge\tMendes\tand\tthere\twas\ttalk\tof\tlittle\telse. The\tplayer\twas\twondering\tif\the\thad\tto\tleave,\tif\tit\twas\tthe\tbest\toption.\tHis\tagent insisted\tthat\the\tshould\tstay\tat\tUnited.\tMendes\twas\tsure\tit\twas\tthe\tright\tthing\tto do. Sir\tAlex\tknew\tthat\the\thad\tto\tchoose\tthe\tright\tmoment\tto\tsit\tdown\twith\tthe","Sir\tAlex\tknew\tthat\the\thad\tto\tchoose\tthe\tright\tmoment\tto\tsit\tdown\twith\tthe player\tand\this\tagent.\tHe\tfelt\tcapable\tof\tfinding\ta\tsolution. The\tweeks\twent\tby.\tRonaldo\tstill\thad\tnot\theard\tfrom\tFerguson.\tSir\tAlex complained\tthat\tCristiano\twas\tnot\treplying\tto\this\tmessages.\tThe\tmanager\tthen found\tout\tthat\the\twas\tsending\tthem\tto\tan\told\tnumber. He\tgot\tthe\tnew\tone.\tThey\tspoke\tand\tdecided\tto\tmeet\tfor\tlunch\tin\tthe\tAlgarve. Ferguson\thired\ta\tprivate\tjet\tand\tflew\tout\tto\tVale\tdo\tLobo\twith\tchief\texecutive David\tGill. It\twas\ta\tvery\tdelicately\tbalanced\tsituation.\tFerguson\thad\tto\tpresent\tsufficient arguments\tin\tthe\tmeeting,\tnot\tonly\tfor\tCristiano\tto\tstay\tat\tOld\tTrafford,\tbut\tto do\tso\twith\tthe\tright\tattitude\tfor\this\tcontinued\tprogression. \u2018You\u2019re\tone\tof\tthe\tbravest\tplayers\tto\tcome\tto\tManchester\tUnited,\tbut\twalking away\tisn\u2019t\tcourage.\u201918 Ferguson\ttold\thim\thow\tBeckham\thad\tgone\tthrough\tthe\tsame\tafter\this\tsending off\tagainst\tArgentina\tin\t1998\twhen\tEngland\twere\tknocked\tout.\t\u2018They\twere hanging\teffigies\tof\thim\toutside\tpubs\tin\tLondon.\tHe\twas\tthe\tdevil\tincarnate.\tBut he\thad\tthe\tballs\tto\tfight\tit.\u201918\tThe\tEnglish,\the\ttold\thim,\tare\tall\tbark\tbut\tno\tbite. \u2018They\twon\u2019t\tdo\tanything\tto\tyou,\u2019\tFerguson\tinsisted.18 Ronaldo\tspoke\tto\tthe\tpress\ta\tfew\tdays\tlater.\t\u2018There\u2019s\tno\treason\tfor\tme\tto\tleave\ta club\tthat\thas\talways\tsupported\tme.\tEverything\twill\tbe\tdecided\tin\tthe\tnext\tweek.\u2019 On\tthe\tfirst\tday\tof\tpre-season,\tFerguson\tdecided\tto\tspeak\tto\tGary\tNeville,\tthe club\tcaptain.\t\u2018Gary,\the\u2019s\tstaying.\tBut\twe\thave\tto\twork\thard\tso\tthat\the\tdoesn\u2019t escape\tfrom\tour\tgrasp,\u2019\tFerguson\ttold\thim.18\tHe\tlater\tasked\tRooney\tand Ronaldo\tinto\this\toffice.\tBoth\tSir\tAlex\tand\tNeville\tknew\tthat\tthere\twere\tno barriers\tto\tknock\tdown.\tNothing\thad\tcome\tbetween\tthem. The\tjokes\tin\tthe\tdressing\troom\twere\tvaried\tand\trevolved\taround\tthe\tsame\ttopic; the\tsupposed\tdislike\tbetween\tthe\tclub\u2019s\ttwo\tyoung\tstars.\tSomebody\tbrought boxing\tgloves\tin\tcase\tthere\twas\ta\tfight\tbefore\ttraining.\tMany\tlaughs\twere\thad. Before\ttraining,\tRonaldo\tconfided\tin\tfitness\tcoach\tValter\tdi\tSalvo\tand\tGabriel Heinze,\twho\tboth\tsaid:\t\u2018Don\u2019t\tlisten\tto\tpeople,\tdo\tyour\ttalking\ton\tthe\tpitch. You\u2019ll\thave\tto\tshow\tgreat\theart.\u2019","You\u2019ll\thave\tto\tshow\tgreat\theart.\u2019 And\tthey\twent\tout\ton\tto\tthe\tpitch. Ronaldo\tappeared\ta\tdifferent\tman.\tHe\thad\tgrown.\tHis\tshoulders\tupright,\this chest\tpuffed\tout,\tarms\tand\tlegs\tstronger\tthan\tbefore.\tIf\the\twent\tfrom\tboy\tto\tman in\t2004,\the\thad\ttranscended\tthat\tbarrier\tin\t2006.\tHe\twas\ta\tfine\tphysical specimen.\tEnormous.\tReady\tfor\tbattle. Defenders\tbounced\toff\thim\twhen\tthey\ttried\tto\tstop\thim.\tHe\tcontinued\tto\tenjoy an\texcellent\trelationship\twith\tthe\tball. Rooney\thad\ta\thunch\tafter\tthat\tfirst\ttraining\tsession:\t\u2018It\u2019s\tgoing\tto\tbe\ta\tbloody good\tseason.\u2019 Ferguson\thad\twhat\the\twanted,\ta\tunified\tdressing\troom. And\talmost\tequally\timportant\tfor\thim:\the\tcreated\tthe\tfeeling\tthat\tthe\tentire world\twas\tagainst\tManchester\tUnited. Going\tback\tto\tthe\tWorld\tCup\tbriefly\t.\t.\t. The\tNetherlands\tdecided\tin\tthe\tlast\tsixteen\tthat\tthe\tbest\tway\tto\tneutralise\tthe Portuguese\ttalent\twas\tto\ttake\tthe\tlaw\tinto\ttheir\town\thands.\tMark\tvan\tBommel stood\ton\tRonaldo\u2019s\tfoot\tand\twas\tcautioned.\tSeven\tminutes\tinto\tthe\tgame, Khalid\tBoulahrouz\tput\tin\ta\tviolent\tchallenge\ton\tthe\tforward\twith\this\tboot connecting\twith\tRonaldo\u2019s\tcalf,\ttriggering\tan\tinjury\tthat\twould\tsee\thim withdrawn\thalf\tan\thour\tlater. Ronaldo\tbit\this\tlip\ton\tthe\twalk\tto\tthe\tdugout,\tbelieving\tthat\this\tWorld\tCup campaign\twas\tover.\tOnce\the\thad\ttaken\ta\tseat,\the\tdecided\tnot\tto\thold\tback\this tears. No,\this\tfather\u2019s\tdeath\thad\tnot\tdried\tup\tevery\ttear. It\twas\tthe\tfirst\tmatch\tof\tthe\t2006\u201307\tseason\tat\thome\tto\tFulham,\tthe\tstandout fixture\tof\tthe\topening\tweekend\tfor\tobvious\treasons.\tSo,\taccordingly,\tit\treceived the\tgreatest\tmedia\tattention,\tand\tevery\tstep,\tgesture\tand\treaction\tby\tWayne Rooney\tand\tRonaldo\twas\tscrutinised.","Rooney\tand\tRonaldo\twas\tscrutinised. The\ttransfer\twindow\twas\tstill\topen\tuntil\tthe\tend\tof\tAugust,\tmeaning\tthat\tin\tspite of\tRonaldo\u2019s\tinsistence\tthat\the\twas\tstaying\tput,\tnobody\twas\truling\tanything\tout. A\tbad\tstart\tto\tthe\tcampaign\tcould\theap\tthe\tpressure\ton\tthe\tPortuguese.\tDefeats would\tallow\tthe\tmedia\tto\tinterpret\tevery\taction\tin\tline\twith\ttheir\tagenda: Ronaldo\tand\tRooney\tdo\tnot\tget\ton. Manchester\tUnited\tclicked\tstraight\tinto\tgear\tand\tdished\tout\ttheir\tmost comprehensive\topening\tday\tleague\twin\t(5\u20131)\tsince\tthe\tSecond\tWorld\tWar. Rooney\tscored\ttwice\tand\tRonaldo\tnetted\tthe\tfourth\tfrom\ta\tRooney\tassist.\tThe back\tpages\twere\tfilled\twith\tphotos\tof\tthe\tpair\tcelebrating\tthe\tgoal. But\twhen\tit\tcame\tto\taway\tmatches,\tnobody\tforgave\tRonaldo\tfor\tthe\twink\tthat inevitably\thad\tbecome\tthe\treason\tfor\tEngland\u2019s\tdefeat.\tInsults\twere\tpouring\tin, he\twas\tbooed\tduring\tthe\twarm-ups,\tduring\tthe\tmatches\tthemselves\tand whenever\the\tleft\tthe\tpitch.\tHe\twas\tbeing\tprovoked. The\tclub\u2019s\tfirst\tvisit\tto\tthe\tcapital,\twhere\tRonaldo\twas\texpected\tto\treceive\tthe worst\ttreatment\tof\tall\tbecause\tof\tLondon\tfans\u2019\tconnection\twith\tthe\tnational team,\twas\tagainst\tCharlton\ton\ta\tWednesday\tevening.\tFerguson\tdecided\tto\tsit\tin the\tdirectors\u2019\tbox\tduring\tthe\tfirst\thalf.\tOne\thome\tfan\tspent\tthe\tfirst\tforty-five minutes\thurling\tabuse,\t\u2018You\tPortuguese\tbastard\u2019\tbeing\tone\tof\tthe\tpoliter epithets.\tFive\tminutes\tbefore\thalf-time,\tRonaldo\treceived\tthe\tball,\tdanced\tround about\tfour\tplayers\tand\thit\tthe\tunderside\tof\tthe\tbar\twith\ta\tshot.\tFerguson remembered\tperfectly\thow\t\u2018that\tguy\tdid\tnot\trise\tfrom\this\tseat\tagain\u2019.18 It\tdeflated\thim.\t\u2018Perhaps\the\tthought\tthat\this\tscreaming\thad\tmotivated\thim,\u2019 wrote\tFerguson\tin\this\tbook.18 By\tthis\tpoint,\tthe\tpress\thad\tturned\tits\tattention\ttowards\tManchester\tUnited\u2019s attempt\tto\twrest\tthe\ttitle\taway\tfrom\tChelsea,\tforgetting\tthe\tWorld\tCup\tincident before\tsupporters\tdid. Ferguson\u2019s\tsquad,\tparticularly\tCristiano,\twere\thungry\tfor\tsuccess\tand\tplayed with\tan\textraordinary\tlevel\tof\tambition,\tspeed\tand\tprecision.\tGary\tNeville\twent so\tfar\tas\tto\tsay,\t\u2018The\tstart\tof\tthat\tseason\twas\tthe\tmost\tenjoyable\tsix\tmonths\tthat I\u2019ve\tseen\tat\tUnited.\u2019 \u2018I\talways\tremember\ta\tgame\taway\tat\tBolton\tthat\twas\tjust\tout\tof\tthis\tworld\tfor thirty\tminutes.\tGiggs,\tSaha,\tRooney\tand\tCristiano\tin\tthe\tfirst\tsix\tmonths\tof\tthat","thirty\tminutes.\tGiggs,\tSaha,\tRooney\tand\tCristiano\tin\tthe\tfirst\tsix\tmonths\tof\tthat season\treally\thad\teverything.\tWe\twere\tso\tdifficult\tto\tplay\tagainst,\u2019\texplained Neville. The\theated\tatmosphere\twas\tgradually\tdiminishing\tas\tpeople\tgrew\ttired\tof provoking\tRonaldo,\twho\tseemed\tto\tthrive\ton\tthe\thostility,\twhile\tthe\tOld Trafford\tfaithful\tmade\thim\tone\tof\ttheir\town.\tFerguson\u2019s\tpatience\twas\tbeing rewarded\tas\the\treadied\this\tnew\tside\tto\tmake\thistory. The\tfans\twere\twitnessing\tthe\tvery\tpublic\tand\tprominent\tbirth\tof\ta\tlegend. Cristiano\u2019s\tstronger\tincarnation\tin\t2004\twas\tsuperseded\tby\this\tmuscle development\tin\t2006,\ta\tconsequence\tof\this\tdaily\tefforts,\twhich\twas accompanied\tby\tan\talmost\tabsolute\tcomprehension\tof\texactly\twhat\twas\tneeded to\tbe\ta\tsuccess\tin\tEnglish\tfootball. Just\twhen\tmany\tat\tCarrington\tthought\the\twas\ta\tlost\tcause. It\twas\tas\tif\tthe\tpenny\thad\tsuddenly\tdropped.\tThe\tpieces\tto\tthe\tpuzzle\thad\tbeen assembled\tover\tthree\tyears\tand\twere\tnow\tready\tto\tbe\tslotted\tinto\tplace. \u2018I\tjust\tthought\the\twas\tnever\tgoing\tto\tget\tdecision-making,\tthe\tunderstanding\tand appreciation\tof\this\tteam-mates,\tin\tpossession\tand\tout\tof\tpossession,\u2019\tadmitted Gary\tNeville. For\tGary,\tthere\twas\ta\tmoment\tin\ta\tmatch\tthat\tmade\thim\tchange\this\tconception of\tfootball\tfor\tever.\tAnd\tit\twas\tin\ta\tgame\tthat\tis\tno\tmore\tthan\ta\tfleeting\tmemory for\tso\tmany. Away\tto\tFulham\tin\tFebruary\t2007. The\tright-back\twas\tunable\tto\tplay\tthat\tday\tdue\tto\tinjury.\tManchester\tUnited were\tabout\tto\tthrow\taway\ttwo\tcrucial\tpoints\tat\tCraven\tCottage,\tbut\tRonaldo suddenly\tpopped\tup\twith\ta\tvital\twinner. \u2018He\tscores\tthat\tgoal\tthat\twins\tyou\tthe\ttitle.\tThe\tspecial\tplayers\tover\tthe\tyears\tare the\tones\twho\twill\tproduce\tit\twhen\tyou\tmost\tneed\tit.\tThat\tgame\twas\ta\tmassive moment\tfor\thim.\u2019","At\tthe\tend\tof\tthe\tseason,\tit\tis\tthe\ttype\tof\tmatch\tthat\tis\tonly\tremembered\tin\tthe champions\u2019\tdressing\troom.\t\u2018It\tdoes,\tit\twins\tyou\tthe\tleague.\tYou\tshiver\twhen you\u2019re\ttalking\tabout\tthat\tgoal\tbecause\t.\t.\t.\tyou\u2019re\tfinished\totherwise\t.\t.\t.\tThat was\tthe\tgame\twhen\tI\tfinally\tfelt,\t\u201cThis\tguy\tis\tproper,\tthis\tis\treal.\u201d\u2019 \u2018He\tchanged\tmy\tway\tof\tthinking,\u2019\tNeville\tcontinued.\t\u2018He\ttaught\tme\tit\u2019s\tpossible to\taccommodate\tthe\tindividual\tambition\tthat\the\thad\twith\tthe\tteam\u2019s\taims\tand make\tthem\twork\ttogether.\u2019 Ronaldo\twas\tbecoming\tless\tartistic,\tbut\tfar\tmore\teffective.\tHe\twas\teradicating the\tsuperfluous\telements\tof\this\tgame.\tBut\twas\tstill\tin\tsearch\tof\tglorious individual\tmoments. \u2018He\tcould\tdo\twhatever\the\twanted\tand\tthe\trest\tof\tus\twould\tjust\tfit\tin\twherever. We\u2019d\tmake\talterations\tfor\thim.\tDid\tManchester\tUnited\tever\tdo\tthat\tfor\tany other\tplayer\tin\tthe\ttime\tthat\tI\twas\tat\tthe\tclub?\tNo,\tnot\teven\tCantona.\tIt\tfinally dawned\ton\tme\twhat\the\tmeant\tby\this\t\u201cToo\tmuch\twater\tkills\tthe\tplant\u201d\tcomment and\tI\tthought,\t\u201cYes,\tthat\u2019s\tquite\tclever.\u201d\u2019 Ronaldo\twas\ta\tchance-making\tmachine.\tHe\twas\thungry,\thad\ttechnique, explosiveness,\tresistance,\tspeed,\the\tcould\tscore\tgoals\twith\this\tpower\tand quality,\tand\tstarted\tto\twin\tmatches\tsingle-handed.\tHis\tteam-mates\tsought\thim out.\tOpponents\tlearnt\tthat\tphysical\tintimidation\twas\tnot\tenough\tbecause\the could\tgive\tany\tdefender\ta\tgood\trun\tfor\this\tmoney\tin\tterms\tof\tstrength\tand aggression. Gary\tNeville\thimself\twas\ton\tthe\treceiving\tend\tof\tit\tin\tevery\ttraining\tsession. And\tevery\tmorning\tthe\tfull-back\twould\tend\tup\trepeating\tbetween\tgritted\tteeth, \u2018I\u2019m\tgoing\tto\tretire\tsoon.\tNobody\tcan\tcope\twith\tthis.\u2019 \u2018After\twhat\thappened\tat\tManchester\tUnited\twith\tRooney,\tI\u2019m\tused\tto everything.\tPeople\tspeak\tto\tme\tat\thotels\tand\tairports\tand\tseem\tto\treally\tlove\tme. Then\tcomes\ta\tmatch\tand\tI\u2019m\ta\tdevil.\tThey\tcall\tme\tall\tsorts\tof\tthings\t.\t.\t.\tI\u2019m used\tto\tit,\tbut\tsometimes\tit\tleaves\tme\ta\tbit,\tI\tdon\u2019t\tknow\t.\t.\t.\tThey\tare\ttrying\tto make\tme\tlose\tfocus,\tbut\tthey\tonly\tdo\tthat\twith\tgood\tplayers,\tright?\u20196 Cristiano\tRonaldo He\tsees\tthe\thostile\trelationship\tfrom\topposition\tfans\t\u2018as\tpart\tof\tthe\tchallenge","He\tsees\tthe\thostile\trelationship\tfrom\topposition\tfans\t\u2018as\tpart\tof\tthe\tchallenge and\tpart\tof\tthe\trecognition\tof\twho\the\tis.\tHe\tfeeds\toff\tit.\u2019\tThat\tis\thow\tmy conversation\twith\tsports\tpsychologist\tBill\tBeswick\tbegan. You\tagainst\t40,000.\tImagine. I\ttell\tBeswick\tthat\tit\tis\tsomething\tthat\tmany\twould\tnot\tbe\table\tto\tunderstand\tor overcome.\tWhen\tRonaldo\tis\ton\tthe\tpitch,\the\tis\twrapped\tin\ta\tlayer\tof\tconfidence and\temotional\tstability\tthat\tenables\thim\tto\tcope\twith\tanything.\tThat\tstrength emanates\tfrom\toff-the-field\tstability:\tthe\tclub\twas\thelping\thim,\this\tfamily\twas helping\thim,\this\tefforts\twere\tturning\tinto\tresults,\tit\twas\tclear\tto\tsee.\tEverything was\tin\torder. He\thad\tmade\tthe\tpitch\this\tkingdom. \u2018Such\tplayers\tlove\tbeing\tin\ta\tstadium\tin\tfront\tof\tthousands\tof\tpairs\tof\teyes.\tIt\u2019s more\thome\tthan\tbeing\toff\ta\tfootball\tfield,\u2019\texplained\tBeswick.\t\u2018It\u2019s\twhat\tthey do.\tIt\u2019s\twhere\tthey\tcan\tbe\tthemselves,\twhen\tthey\tare\tat\ttheir\tbest,\twhere\tthey\u2019re recognised,\twhere\tthey\tget\tself-esteem\tand\ttheir\tidentity\tis\tcomplete.\tIt\u2019s\toff\tthe field\twhen\tthey\thave\ta\tdifficult\ttime.\tWaiting\tto\tget\tback\ton\tto\tthe\tfield.\u2019 In\torder\tto\tmake\tthat\tpart\tmore\tbearable,\tthey\tspend\thours\tat\tthe\ttraining ground,\tthey\tbuy\tgym\tequipment\tand\tget\tswimming\tpools\tbuilt\tat\ttheir properties,\tand\trecreate\tstates\tof\temotional\twellbeing\tthat\tassure\tthem\tof happiness:\twhat\tthey\tlive\ton\tthe\tpitch\tis\textended\tbeyond\tit. In\tthis\tregard,\tI\tproposed\tthe\tfollowing\ttheory\tto\tBill\tBeswick.\tAs\thas\talready been\tmentioned,\tRonaldo\tlikes\tto\tgive\tpresents\tto\this\tfamily,\tfriends,\tplayers, the\tcoaching\tstaff,\tphysios.\tHe\thad\ta\troom\tbuilt\tin\this\thouse\tin\tManchester\tthat could\teasily\tbecome\ta\tsmall\tnightclub.\tHe\twould\tinvite\tfriends\tand\twould\toften give\tthem\ta\tgift.\tI\tdo\tnot\tthink\tthat\the\tis\tbuying\ttheir\tappreciation,\tbut\tis\ttacitly asking\tthem\tto\thave\twalk-on\tparts\tin\tthat\tother\tpart\tof\this\tlife.\tThe\tone\tin\twhich he\tmust\tlive\tcomfortably,\twithout\tchallenges,\tdoubts\tand\tconflicts. \u2018That\u2019s\ta\tgood\tway\tof\tputting\tit,\u2019\tBeswick\tanswered.\t\u2018In\tthe\tsense\tthat\tif\tyou\u2019re acting,\tyou\u2019re\tunreal.\tYou\u2019re\tunreal,\tin\tmy\topinion,\tbecause\tyou\u2019re\tnot\table\tto deal\twith\tthis\textraordinary\tdichotomy.\tExtraordinary\tathlete,\tordinary\tguy.\tI used\tto\tsay\tto\tDavid\tBeckham,\t\u201cListen,\tmate.\tWhen\tyou\tleave\tthe\ttraining ground,\tstop\tat\tthe\tred\tlight.\tYou\tmay\tbe\textraordinary\tand\tdeliver\tthe\tbest\tcross I\u2019ve\tever\tseen\tin\tmy\tlife,\tbut\tif\tyou\tdon\u2019t\tstop\tat\tthe\tred\tlight,\tyou\u2019re\tdead\tor somebody\telse\tis.\u201d\tAnd\tthat\u2019s\treally\twhat\tsports\tpsychologists\tshould\ttell\tthese","somebody\telse\tis.\u201d\tAnd\tthat\u2019s\treally\twhat\tsports\tpsychologists\tshould\ttell\tthese athletes\twhen\tthey\tare\ttwelve-,\tthirteen-and\tfourteen-year-olds.\u2019 But\tso\tmany\tcannot\tstop.\tIt\tis\twhat\tBeswick\tlabels\t\u2018the\ttreadmill\tpersonality\u2019.\tIf such\tan\tathlete\tis\ton\tthe\ttreadmill,\tnothing\tcan\tdamage\tor\tstop\tthem.\tThey\tdo what\tthey\tknow\tbest.\tIt\tmakes\tpeople\thappy\tand\tthey\tapplaud.\tThey\tstay\tbusy by\tworking\tand\tlearning\tso\tthat\tthey\tdo\tnot\thave\tto\tthink\tabout\tanything\telse. They\tare\tconstantly\ton\tthe\tmove\tto\tovercome\tany\tpossible\tanxiety\tand\tnot\tto have\tto\tthink\tbeyond\ttheir\tprofession. They\tprefer\tto\ttake\ttheir\tmind\tand\tbody\tto\tthe\tlimit\tbefore\tstopping. It\tmust\tbe\texhausting. And,\tof\tcourse,\tthey\tmust\tpay\ta\theavy\tprice\twhen\tthey\tretire.\tWhen\tthe treadmill\tstops.\tBecause\tthey\tcollapse. But\tI\tdigress\t.\t.\t. Hundreds\tof\tsports\tpages\twere\tdevoted\tto\tthe\twar\tof\twords\tbetween\tRonaldo and\tMourinho\twho\taccused\treferees\tof\tfavouring\tManchester\tUnited.\t\u2018He\tnever recognises\twhen\the\u2019s\twrong,\u2019\twas\tCristiano\u2019s\tresponse.11\tJos\u00e9\tcalled\this compatriot\ta\tliar\t(\u2018If\the\tsays\tthat\tit\tis\tfalse\tthat\tManchester\tUnited\thave conceded\tpenalties\tthat\twere\tnot\tgiven,\tit\u2019s\tlies\u2019)\tand\tdecided\tto\tgo\teven\tfurther. \u2018Maybe\tit\u2019s\ta\tconsequence\tof\this\tdifficult\tchildhood\tand\tnot\thaving\tan education.\u2019 Elements\tof\tthe\tEnglish\tfootball\tpress\tprefer\tto\tfocus\ton\tcontroversy\tand\tbig personalities.\tRonaldo\t(and\tMourinho,\tof\tcourse)\toffered\tthem\tthe\tbest\tof\tboth worlds.\t\u2018Maybe\tbecause\tI\u2019m\tvery\tgood,\u2019\twas\tRonaldo\u2019s\tanswer\twhen\tasked\twhy he\twas\tinvolved\tin\tso\tmuch\tpolemic\tthat\tseason. Tabloid\tjournalists\thad\tlapped\tup\tthe\tjuicy\tcontent,\talthough\tthey\talready\thad surplus\tfootball\tmaterial\tin\tthe\tshape\tof\tthe\tPortuguese\u2019s\texceptional\tseason. After\tannihilating\tRoma\t7\u20131,\tincluding\ta\tRonaldo\tbrace,\tAC\tMilan\tawaited\tin the\tChampions\tLeague\tsemi-finals.\tCristiano\twas\trewarded\twith\ta\tnew\tbumper contract\tuntil\t2012\tin\tlight\tof\this\toutstanding\tperformances,\tmaking\thim\tthe best-paid\tplayer\tin\tthe\tclub\u2019s\thistory.\tFerguson\tcelebrated\tthe\tfact\tthat\tone\tof\tthe best\tplayers\the\thad\tsigned\tand\tdeveloped\twas\textending\this\tOld\tTrafford","adventure. There\twere\tdreams\tof\tanother\ttreble\tto\treplicate\t1999.\tThe\tleague\twas\tpossible and\tthe\tclub\treached\tthe\tFA\tCup\tfinal.\tChelsea\tstood\tin\ttheir\tway\tin\tboth competitions. The\tfirst\tleg\tof\tthe\tChampions\tLeague\tsemi-final\twas\tplayed\tat\tOld\tTrafford. Ronaldo\topened\tthe\tscoring\twith\ta\theader,\tbut\ta\tsublime\tKak\u00e1\tturned\tthe\tmatch on\tits\thead\twith\ttwo\tgoals.\tIt\twould\tnot\tend\tthere.\tWayne\tRooney,\ton\tperhaps one\tof\this\tgreatest\tEuropean\tnights,\tscored\ttwice,\tincluding\ta\tlast-minute winner,\tto\tleave\tManchester\tUnited\tin\tpole\tposition\tto\treach\tthe\tAthens\tfinal. Ronaldo\u2019s\timpact\tthat\tnight\twas\tlimited\tto\this\tgoal\tand\ta\tstrike\tfrom\tdistance that\tDida\tparried. The\treturn\tleg\tat\tthe\tSan\tSiro,\thowever,\tdid\tnot\tgo\tto\tplan.\tThe\thome\tside played\tspectacular\tfootball\twith\tgoals\tby\tKak\u00e1,\tSeedorf\tand\tGilardino\t\u2013\tno\tless than\tthey\tdeserved.\tRonaldo\tplayed\tdown\tthe\tleft,\tbut\twas\tineffectual. He\tdid\twin\tthe\tPremier\tLeague,\thowever,\this\tfirst\tin\tfour\tyears\tat\tthe\tclub.\tHe was\tat\thome\ton\tthe\tsofa\twith\this\tbrother-in-law\tZ\u00e9\twhen\tit\twas\tall\tconfirmed,\tas Chelsea\tfailed\tto\tbeat\tArsenal\tat\tthe\tEmirates.\tUnited\tfinished\tsix\tpoints\tahead of\tMourinho\u2019s\tside. The\tdomestic\tseason\tcame\tto\ta\tclose\ttwo\tweeks\tlater\tagainst\tthe\tBlues\tin\tthe inaugural\tFA\tCup\tfinal\tat\tthe\tnew\tWembley.\tBased\ton\thow\tthe\tcampaign\thad gone,\tChelsea\u2019s\t1\u20130\tvictory\twith\tan\textra-time\tDrogba\tgoal\twas\tconsidered\ta\tbit of\ta\tshock.\tRonaldo\twas\tonce\tagain\ton\tthe\tleft\twing,\tbut\tonce\tagain\tineffectual. Ronaldo\u2019s\t2006\u201307\tPremier\tLeague\tcampaign\twas\tstunning.\tHe\thad\tnever scored\tso\tmany\tgoals\t(twenty-three\tin\tall\tcompetitions)\tor\tprovided\tso\tmany assists\t(thirteen,\tthe\tsame\tas\tArsenal\u2019s\tF\u00e0bregas). Plaudits\t(large\tand\tsmall)\tflooded\tin\tfor\tthe\ttwenty-two-year-old\twho\tdiscovered the\tinherent\thappiness\tthat\ttop-level\tconsistency\tcan\tprovide. Among\tthe\tsmall\tones\twas\tone\tfrom\ta\tlinesman\twho\tsaid\tto\tRonaldo\twhen\tthe player\tpassed\thim\ton\tthe\tpitch,\t\u2018Play\twith\ta\tsmile\ton\tyour\tface,\twe\tlike\tto\tsee you\tsmile.\u2019 Among\tthe\tbig\tones\twas\tbeing\tnamed\tPlayer\tof\tthe\tYear\tand\tYoung\tPlayer\tof","Among\tthe\tbig\tones\twas\tbeing\tnamed\tPlayer\tof\tthe\tYear\tand\tYoung\tPlayer\tof the\tYear\tby\tthe\tProfessional\tFootballers\u2019\tAssociation\t(nobody\thad\twon\tboth awards\tin\tthe\tsame\tseason\tsince\tAndy\tGray\tin\t1977).\tHe\talso\tscooped\tthe Football\tWriters\u2019\tAssociation\tFootballer\tof\tthe\tYear\tand\tProfessional Footballers\u2019\tAssociation\tFans\u2019\tPlayer\tof\tthe\tYear\tawards. Ferguson\twaited\tfor\tthe\topportune\tmoment\tto\tmake\this\town\ttribute. He\tsigned\tAnderson\tand\tNani\tin\tsummer\t2007,\tand\tRonaldo\tturned\this\tgrowing dressing-room\tpresence\tinto\tsomething\tmore:\the\twas\tthe\tleader\tof\tthe\tgroup\tof new\tarrivals,\tfacilitated\tby\ta\tcommon\tlanguage\tand\tstyle\tof\tplay.\tHe\twas\thappy to\tprotect\tand\tguide\tthem. On\ttop\tof\tthat,\tthe\tmanager\twanted\tto\tacknowledge\this\twork\ton\tand\toff\tthe\tfield by\toffering\thim\tthe\temblematic\tcaptain\u2019s\tarmband\tfor\ta\thome\tclash\tagainst Bolton.\tHe\thad\treached\tsuch\ta\tlevel\tof\tmaturity\tthat\tnobody\tgrumbled\twhen\the was\tasked\tto\trepresent\tthe\tclub\tin\tsuch\ta\tway.\tRonaldo\tresponded\tas\tusual\twhen he\tfeels\tappreciated\tand\tis\toffered\tresponsibility:\twith\ta\tsterling\tperformance and\tboth\tgoals\tin\ta\tcomfortable\tvictory. He\thad\twon\teveryone\tover.\tOpposition\tfans,\tthe\tpress.\tNo\tdoubts\tremained.\tThe Manchester\tUnited\tplatform\thad\tallowed\thim\tto\treach\tsuch\ta\tlevel\tthat\tnot\teven the\tsky\twas\tthe\tlimit.\tThe\trest\tof\tthe\tteam\twas\tfully\tbehind\thim\tand\twillingly followed\this\tlead. In\tmany\tpeople\u2019s\teyes,\tRonaldo\thad\tbecome\ta\tsmall\tgod. The\ttwenty-two-year-old\tfrom\tFunchal\twas\tbending\tthe\twill\tof\this\tteam-mates and\tsupporters\tfrom\tall\tover\tthe\tcountry. He\tfelt\ttremendously\tcomfortable\tin\tthat\tspace,\tsomething\tlike\tbeing\tin\tthe\teye of\ta\thurricane\tonly\tinhabited\tby\tthe\tchosen\tones.\tRonaldo\twas\tdelighted\tto\ttake to\tthe\tfield\tevery\tweek\tin\tfront\tof\tcrowds\tthat\thad\ttravelled\tthe\tcountry\tfrom\tfar and\twide\tto\tget\ta\tglimpse\tof\ttheir\tgods\tin\taction.\tAnd\twhen\tthey\tmade\tit\ton\tto the\tfield,\tRonaldo\tand\tthe\tother\tplayers\twould\tdance\tfor\tthem. Let\tme\texplain\tthe\tanalogy. We\tare\tspeaking\tabout\tthe\tsame\tterritory\tthat\tWilliam\tDalrymple\tnarrates\tso","brilliantly\tin\this\tbook\tNine\tLives.\tIn\tthe\tchapter\tentitled\t\u2018The\tDancer\tof Kannur\u2019,\the\ttakes\tus\tto\tthe\tIndian\tcity\tin\tthe\tstate\tof\tKerala.\tIn\tthe\tmidnight shadows\tof\ta\tforest,\tilluminated\tonly\tby\ta\tbonfire\tand\tcamphor\tlights,\tsix\tDalit drummers\thave\tbeen\tgradually\traising\ttheir\ttempo\tsurrounded\tby\tdevotees\tfrom all\tover\tIndia. A\tgod\tis\tabout\tto\tincarnate\titself\tinto\tthe\tdancer\u2019s\tbody,\twhile\the\traves\tin\tthe middle\tof\tthe\tcircle.\t\u2018He\tis\tfrenetically\tpirouetting\taround\tthe\tclearing,\tstrutting and\tjabbing,\tunsheathed\tsword\tin\tone\thand,\u2019\tDalrymple\twrites. Hari\tDas,\tthe\tman\twho\tends\tup\tbeing\tpossessed,\thas\tbeen\tturning\tfor\ttwenty-six years\tinto\tthe\tgod\tVishnu\tin\tfront\tof\thundreds\tof\tbelievers.\tFollowing\ta conversation\twith\thim,\tthe\tauthor\tdescribes\thow\the\tfelt\tbefore,\tduring\tand\tafter the\tprocess. In\tthe\tbuild-up,\the\tcannot\tavoid\tnerves\tin\tcase\tthe\tgod\trefuses\tto\tcome.\tThe level\tof\tdevotion\tdetermines\tthe\tintensity\tof\tthe\tpossession.\t\u2018If\tyou\tlose\tyour feeling\tof\tdevotion,\tif\tit\teven\tonce\tbecomes\troutine\tor\tunthinking,\tthe\tgods\tmay stop\tcoming,\u2019\texplains\tHari\tDas. When\tthe\tdance\tstarts\tand\the\tis\tpossessed\tby\tVishnu,\the\tis\tnot\taware\tof\twhat\tis happening\tto\thim.\tA\tblinding\tlight\thits\thim.\tHe\tbecomes\tthe\tdeity.\tHe\tis\tjust\tthe vehicle,\tthe\tmedium.\tHe\tloses\tall\tfear\tand\teven\this\tvoice\tchanges.\t\u2018The\tdancer\tis an\tordinary\tman\t\u2013\tbut\tthis\tbeing\tis\tdivine,\u2019\texplains\tDas\twho\tis\ta\tmanual labourer\tduring\tthe\tweek\tand,\tat\tweekends,\ta\tprison\twarder. The\ttrance\tdoes\tnot,\tnor\tcan\tit,\tlast\ta\tlifetime.\tWhen\tcoming\tout\tof\tit,\tthe\tdancer feels\t\u2018the\tincision\tof\ta\tsurgeon.\tSuddenly\tit\u2019s\tall\tover,\tit\u2019s\tgone.\u2019 Does\tthis\tnot\tsound\tlike\tthe\tperfect\tdescription\tof\ta\tfootballer\tin\ta\tbig\tmatch? Or,\tto\ta\tgreater\tor\tlesser\textent,\tmaybe\tin\tevery\tsingle\tgame. And\twhen\tthey\tturn\tthe\tcorner\taway\tfrom\tthe\tpitch,\tlife\toften\treminds\tthem,\tas it\tdoes\tDas,\tthat\tfootballers\tare\tnot\tgods. Ronaldo\u2019s\tmother\tdiscovered\tthat\tshe\thad\tbreast\tcancer. While\tCristiano\twas\tbattling\tfor\this\tfirst\tPremier\tLeague\ttitle,\tDolores\twas operated\ton\tat\tCruz\tCarvalho\thospital\tin\tFunchal\tand\tbegan\ther\trecovery,\twhich, after\tsix\tweeks\tof\tradiotherapy,\twould\tbe\tpronounced\tcomplete.","after\tsix\tweeks\tof\tradiotherapy,\twould\tbe\tpronounced\tcomplete. Look\tat\tthe\tphotos\tthat\twere\ttaken\tmonths\tlater\tduring\tthe\t2006\u201307\ttitle celebrations\tat\tOld\tTrafford,\tespecially\tthe\tone\twith\tZ\u00e9,\tHugo,\tNuno,\tRog\u00e9rio and\tDolores\talongside\tRonaldo\ton\tthe\tpitch. He\thad\tcome,\the\thad\tseen\tand\the\thad\tconquered.\tAnother\tchapter\twas\tclosing. In\t2007\u201308,\tRonaldo\treached\ta\tlevel\tthat\twould\tdwarf\this\tprevious\tseason\tin comparison.\tNani\tand\tAnderson\twere\tjoined\tby\tOwen\tHargreaves\tand\tCarlos T\u00e9vez,\twhile\tChelsea\treached\tan\tagreement\tto\tterminate\tJos\u00e9\tMourinho\u2019s contract\tby\tmutual\tconsent\tearly\tinto\tthe\tcampaign. Ferguson\tknew\tall\ttoo\twell\tthat\tthe\tteam\thad\tto\tget\tthe\tball\tto\tRonaldo. \u2018We\tstopped\tgetting\tfrustrated\tabout\thim\tsometimes\tswitching\twings\twithout saying\tanything\tto\tanyone\twhen\twe\tunderstood\tthat\this\tversatility\twas\tour strength,\u2019\texplained\tGary\tNeville.\t\u2018He\thad\tbecome\tthe\tstar\tof\tthe\tteam.\tWhen you\tscore\tthirty\tor\tthirty-five\tgoals,\tyou\tcan\tdo\twhat\tyou\twant.\u2019 \u2018He\tgot\tsubbed\tone\tgame,\u2019\trecalled\tPhil\tNeville,\t\u2018and\tit\twas\tas\tif\tsomeone\thad shot\this\tmum.\tFerguson\ttold\thim,\t\u201cWe\twant\tyou\tto\trest.\u201d\t\u201cNo,\tI\tneed\ta\tgoal.\u201d He\twanted\tto\tplay\tin\tevery\tgame.\tSir\tAlex\tdreaded\ttelling\thim\the\twas\tgoing\tto rest\thim.\tHe\tcouldn\u2019t\ttake\thim\toff\tin\tthe\tend.\u2019 Ronaldo\twas\tcrystal\tclear\ton\twhere\the\twas\tand\twhere\the\twas\theading.\tHe\twas happy\twith\this\tduties\tand\tthe\tresponsibility\tof\twinning\tmatches\tfor\this\tteam- mates,\tas\tthe\tleader\tof\tthe\tteam.\tA\tspecific\ttype\tof\tleader:\tone\twho\tdoes\tthings as\the\twishes\tand\tforces\tthe\trest\tto\tdo\twhat\the\twants.\tIf\the\tcannot\tconvince\tthem, he\tdoes\tit\tall\tthe\tsame. Ronaldo\thad\tto\tachieve\this\tgoal\tno\tmatter\twhat. \u2018Over\ta\tperiod\tof\ttime,\trealising\thow\tgood\the\twas,\the\tstarted\tto\tget\tthis\tidea\tthat everything\tshould\trevolve\taround\thim,\u2019\texplained\tMike\tPhelan.\t\u2018All\tgood players\tdo\tthat,\t\u201cIf\tI\tdon\u2019t\tget\tthe\tball\tthen\tnothing\tcan\thappen.\u201d\tHe\tgot\tso irritated\twith\this\tteam-mates\twhen\tthey\tdidn\u2019t\trelease\thim\ton\tthe\tball\tall\tthe time.\u2019","Normally\tthe\tteam\taccepted\tthey\tall\thad\tto\trecover\tpossession\tto\tget\tthe\tball back\tto\thim,\tyet\tScholes,\tGiggs\tand\tNani\twere\tall\tcapable\tof\tunlocking\tdefences themselves.\tSo\tthey\tsometimes\thit\ttheir\tgreat\tpasses\telsewhere\tto\tshow\ttheir value.\t\u2018\u201cDon\u2019t\tneed\tto\tuse\tyou\ttoday,\u201d\twas\ttheir\tmessage.\tYou\tcould\ttell\thow that\tfrustrated\tRonaldo,\u2019\tadded\tPhelan. \u2018Sometimes\this\tbad\ttemper\twould\tcome\tout,\u2019\tconfirmed\tGerard\tPiqu\u00e9.\t\u2018He didn\u2019t\tlike\tlosing\tand\tI\tsaw\thim\tsay\ta\tfew\tthings\tin\tthe\tdressing\troom\tat\thalf- time\ton\tmore\tthan\tone\toccasion.\tHe\tcould\tget\tus\tinto\tgear.\u2019 \u2018You\thad\tto\tstay\tstrong\twith\thim\tsometimes,\u2019\tsaid\tPhelan.\tFerguson\u2019s\tassistant admitted\tin\tprivate\tthat\tthe\tworst\tspell\tof\this\tcareer\tas\ta\tcoach\twas\tthe\tyears when\the\tshared\tthe\tdressing\troom\twith\tRonaldo.\tThe\tworst\tand\tbest,\tat\tthe\tsame time. \u2018Even\ton\tdays\twhen\tall\tthe\tlads\twould\tsay,\t\u201cEnjoyed\tthat\ttoday,\u201d\the\twould\tsay, \u201cI\tdidn\u2019t\tget\tanything\tout\tof\tit.\u201d\u2019 So\tCristiano\tbegan\tknocking\ton\tPhelan\u2019s\tdoor\tevery\tmorning. \u2018What\tcan\tyou\tgive\tme\tthat\u2019s\tdifferent?\u2019 \u2018This,\tdo\tthis,\u2019\tPhelan\twould\tsay. On\tthe\tfirst\tmorning\the\tasked,\tRonaldo\treturned\tto\tthe\toffice\tafter\tthe\tsession. \u2018This\tthing\tyou\tgave\tme,\twhat\tthe\thell\twas\tit?\tThis\tis\tshit.\u2019 \u2018So\twhat\tdo\tyou\twant?\u2019\tPhelan\tasked\thim. \u2018I\twant\tto\tbe\tthe\tbest\tin\tthe\tworld\tand\tyou\thave\tto\tgive\tme\tthings\tevery\tday\tto achieve\tthat.\u2019 Phelan\tstarted\tspending\thours\tand\thours\tin\tfront\tof\this\tcomputer,\tasking colleagues,\treading\tmanuals,\tassembling\tan\tencyclopaedia\tof\texercises\tand targets\tfor\thim.\t\u2018I\u2019ve\tnever\tgone\tso\tlong\twithout\tsleeping,\u2019\the\tadmitted\tto\this circle\tof\tfriends.\t\u2018It\twas\tvery\ttough,\u2019\the\tsays\ttoday. Ronaldo\twould\task\tthe\tsame\tquestion\tthe\tfollowing\tday:\t\u2018So\twhat\tdo\tyou\thave for\tme\ttoday?\u2019","\u2018Back\tthen,\tif\tyou\tasked\tanyone\tat\tCarrington\twho\twas\tgoing\tto\tbe\tthe\tbest\tin the\tworld\tbetween\thim\tand\tMessi,\teveryone\twould\u2019ve\tsaid\tRonaldo.\tNobody could\tmatch\this\tdrive,\u2019\trevealed\tPhil\tNeville.\tHe\tscored\tthe\tfirst\that-trick\tof\this professional\tcareer\tagainst\tNewcastle\tat\tOld\tTrafford\tin\tJanuary\t2008.\t\u2018He\twas no\tlonger\ta\twinger,\tbut\ta\tformidable\tand\tpowerful\tstriker,\u2019\trecalled\tGary Neville.\t\u2018He\tcould\tbeat\tcentre-backs\tin\tthe\tair.\tIn\tfact,\this\tbest\tUnited\tgoal\tfor me\twas\ta\theader.\u2019 It\twas\ta\tgoal\tthat\temerged\tfrom\tthe\tchallenge\tthat\tRonaldo\thad\tset\thimself. \u2018This\tisn\u2019t\tenough\tfor\tme,\tI\tneed\tmore.\u2019\tThose\twords\thad\tbecome\this\tmantra\tat Carrington.\tHe\tdemanded\tthat\teverybody,\tcoaches\tand\tplayers\talike,\tbe\tone\tstep ahead\tand\timprove.\tThe\tcoaches\texplored\tnew\tavenues,\ttried\tto\ttake\thim\tout\tof his\tcomfort\tzone\tto\tplease\tand\thelp\thim\tand\talso\tto\tadd\tnew\tammunition\tto\tthe team. They\tstarted\tasking\thim\tto\tplay\tdown\tthe\tmiddle\trather\tthan\ton\tthe\twing.\tAs\ta number\tten.\tOr\tas\ta\tnumber\tnine.\tHe\thad\tdone\tso\tat\tthe\tSporting\tacademy\tand had\tthe\tattributes\tfor\tboth\tpositions. Ronaldo\tenjoyed\tit\twhen\tthe\tteam\thad\tplenty\tof\tpossession\tand\tthe\tplay\twould always\tgo\tthrough\thim.\tHe\twould\tget\tmore\ttouches\tof\tthe\tball\tand\tchances\tto get\tinvolved,\tand\tthat\tway\the\tcould\tdecide\tgames\tfrom\ta\tcentral\tposition. But\tin\tbig\tgames,\twhen\tthe\tteam\thad\tless\tpossession,\the\tsoon\trealised\t(\u2018He worked\tthings\tout\treally\tquickly:\twhat\twas\tgood\tfor\thim\tand\twhat\twasn\u2019t\tgood for\thim,\u2019\tsaid\tMike\tPhelan)\tthat\tthe\tManchester\tUnited\tnumber\tnine\toften needed,\tas\twell\tas\tscoring\tgoals,\tto\tbe\table\tto\treceive\tthe\tball\tto\tfeet,\tturn,\trun\tin behind,\twait\tfor\tthe\tpass.\tIt\tdid\tnot\tsuit\this\tgame\tand\talso\tthat\tmeant\tothers carried\tthe\tball.\tHe\twas\tnot\tso\tpleased\tabout\tthat\teither. \u2018In\tbig\tmatches,\the\tdidn\u2019t\tsee\ta\tlot\tof\tthe\tball,\tit\tdidn\u2019t\talways\tgo\tstraight\tinto him\tand\tI\tthink\the\trealised\tthat\tmaybe\the\twas\tbetter\toff\tin\ta\tdifferent\tarea\twhere he\tcould\tinfluence\tmore,\u2019\tcontinued\tPhelan. Despite\tCarlos\tQueiroz\tinsisting\the\tcould\tbecome\tthe\tmost\tcomplete\tcentre- forward\tin\tthe\tworld,\t\u2018he\tdidn\u2019t\twant\tthe\trole\tall\tthe\ttime\tprobably\tbecause\the was\tgetting\tthe\tball\tin\tareas\twhere\the\twasn\u2019t\tcomfortable,\u2019\tobserved\tPhil Neville.\t\u2018This\twas\tnew.\tMaybe\the\tthought\tthat\the\twasn\u2019t\tgoing\tto\tscore\tas\tmany goals.\u2019","So\the\twas\thalf-heartedly\tlearning\tto\tbe\ta\tnumber\tnine,\tforced\tto\tplay\tin\tthat position\tin\tkey\tgames,\tbut\tnot\tconvinced\tthat\twas\twhere\the\tcould\tget\this\tbest stats.\tAnd\tyet,\the\twas\tscoring\tclassic\tstriker\tgoals.\tJust\tlike\tthe\tone\tthat\tGary Neville\tmentioned. It\twas\tagainst\tRoma. Goalless\twith\tsix\tminutes\tto\tgo\tto\thalf-time\tin\tthe\tChampions\tLeague\tquarter- finals\tat\tthe\tStadio\tOlimpico\t(1\tApril\t2008),\tPaul\tScholes\tput\tin\ta\tcross\tfrom\tthe right\ttowards\tthe\tpenalty\tspot\twhere\tRonaldo\tshould\thave\tbeen\t(Rooney\tplayed down\tthe\tleft). The\tball,\tnow\tin\tthe\tair,\tdid\tnot\tseem\tto\tbelong\tto\tanyone\tin\tparticular. And\tthen\t.\t.\t. \u2018He\tjumps\tup,\tall\tthe\tmuscles\tin\this\tneck\twere\tstraining,\u2019\tWayne\tRooney\twrote in\this\tautobiography.19 \u2018He\tjumped\tlike\tMichael\tJordan\tand\tfinished\tlike\tJoe\tJordan,\u2019\tsaid\tGary\tNeville. \u2018He\twas\tlike\ta\tfast-speed\ttrain.\u2019 \u2018I\u2019ve\tnever\tseen\tanyone\ttravel\tin\tthe\tair\tlike\tthat,\u2019\trecalled\tPhelan.\t\u2018He\u2019s\tnot even\tin\tthe\tpicture,\tbut\tsuddenly\tthis\tbody\tflies\tthrough\tthe\tair,\twallop,\tit\u2019s\ton his\thead\tand\tit\u2019s\tin.\u2019 \u2018I\u2019m\ta\tstriker\tand\tI\tknow\tthat\tthat\tisn\u2019t\tmy\tball,\u2019\tstated\tLouis\tSaha.\t\u2018I\u2019ll\tnever get\tto\tthat\tball,\tbut\the\tmanaged\tto\tjump,\tyou\tsee\thim\tin\tfront\tof\tthe\tmirror putting\tgel\tin\this\thair\tand\tthen\tall\tof\ta\tsudden,\tyou\tsee\tthis\tgiant\tjumping\tup\tand heading\tthe\tball.\u2019 Ronaldo\u2019s\tlower\tbody\tstrength\tand\theight\thelp\thim\tlift\toff\twith\tfive\ttimes\tmore power\tthan\this\tbody\tweight,\treaching\tseventy-eight\tcentimetres.\tThat\tis\tseven centimetres\thigher\tthan\tthe\taverage\tfor\tNBA\tplayers\t(Michael\tJordan\tcould reach\t1.20\tmetres).\tWith\this\tgym\twork,\the\twent\tfrom\twinning\t40\tto\t66\tper\tcent of\tballs\tin\tthe\tair\tthat\tseason.\tThanks\tto\this\timproved\ttiming\ton\tthe\tback\tof hundreds\tof\thours\tof\ttraining,\the\tcould\thead\ta\tball\tat\ta\theight\tof\t2.63\tmetres. \u2018He\tconnected\tvery\tfar\tout,\talmost\ton\tthe\tpenalty\tspot,\tbut\tthe\tball\tflew\tin\tlike\ta bullet,\u2019\trecalled\tGary\tNeville.","And\tit\tbeat\tDoni. \u2018And\the\u2019s\tstill\tin\tthe\tair\tas\tthe\tball\thits\tthe\tnet.\tYou\tdon\u2019t\tcoach\tthat;\tyou\u2019re\tjust glad\tto\tbe\tthere\tto\tsee\tit,\u2019\tPhelan\treminisced. It\twas\this\tthirty-sixth\tgoal\tof\tthe\tseason\tand\tRonaldo\talso\tconsiders\tit\tone\tof\tthe best\tof\this\tcareer. \u2018One\tof\tthe\tbest\theaders\tI\u2019ve\tever\tseen\t.\t.\t.\tAlan\tShearer\tcould\u2019ve\tscored\tit,\u2019 stated\tRooney,\twho\tconverted\tthe\tsecond\tand\tfinal\tgoal\tof\tthe\tgame.19\tAfter beating\tRoma\tagain\tat\tOld\tTrafford,\tBarcelona\tawaited\tin\tthe\tsemi-finals. Along\twith\tthe\tpower\tof\this\tjump\tand\tthe\tvelocity\twith\twhich\tthe\tball\tflew\toff his\thead,\tthere\tis\tanother\taspect\tthat\teveryone\tremembers\twith\tbemusement. Ronaldo\thung\tin\tthe\tair. Is\tthat\tpossible? It\ttakes\texactly\tthe\tsame\tamount\tof\ttime\tto\treach\ta\theight\tas\tit\tdoes\tto\tcome down.\tWhen\twe\tare\tat\tthe\thighest\tpoint,\tour\tvertical\tspeed\tis\tvery\tlow,\twhile\tour climb\tand\tdescent\trate\tis\tvery\tfast.\tWhile\twe\tare\tup\tthere,\twe\tbarely\tmove\tand that\tis\tpartly\twhere\tthe\tfeeling\tof\thanging\tin\tthe\tair\tcomes\tfrom. Greater\tstrength\tand\ta\tlower\tweight\tdo\tnot\tmean\ta\tlonger\tascent,\tbut\ta\tfaster take-off\tspeed\tresulting\tin\tmore\ttime\tin\tthe\tair.\tGravity\tmakes\tus\tall\tequal\twhen we\tleave\tthe\tground,\tbut\tathletes\tstart\ttheir\tascent\tat\ta\tgreater\tspeed,\tmeaning their\trise\tand\tfall\twill\tbe\tbigger\tthan\tours. There\tis\tsomething\tthat\tamplifies\tthat\tvirtual\tfantasy\tof\thanging\tin\tthe\tair: bending\tyour\tlegs\tin\tthe\tfirst\tphase\tand\tstretching\tthem\tin\tthe\tsecond.\tWhen gravity\tis\tat\twork\tfor\tthe\tfall,\tlegs\tfall\tfirst\tand\tbody\tstays\tat\tthe\tsame\theight. And\tthat\thelps\tgive\tthe\tvisual\tillusion\tof\talmost\tfloating. Ronaldo\tis\ta\tpowerhouse. In\tthe\t2007\u201308\tseason,\the\tscored\ta\tstaggering\tforty-two\tgoals\t(thirty\tin\tthe league,\tincluding\tnine\theaders),\tdespite\tnot\topening\this\taccount\tuntil\tlate September\tand\tcarrying\tan\tankle\tinjury\tin\tthe\tlast\ttwo\tmonths\tof\tthe\tcampaign.","September\tand\tcarrying\tan\tankle\tinjury\tin\tthe\tlast\ttwo\tmonths\tof\tthe\tcampaign. He\tkept\tplaying\twith\ta\tprodigious\tphysical\tand\tmental\teffort,\tthanks\tto\tthe\tanti- inflammatories,\tspecific\ttreatment\tand\tbarely\ttraining\tat\tall. He\tdid\tnot\twant\tto\tmiss\ta\tsingle\tpart\tof\ta\tseason\tthat\thad\tall\tthe\tingredients\tfor becoming\ta\thistoric\tone. United\ttravelled\tto\tBarcelona\tfor\tthe\tfirst\tleg\tof\tthe\tChampions\tLeague\tsemi- final\tto\ttake\ton\tFrank\tRijkaard\u2019s\tdeclining\tside,\twith\tRonaldinho\tand\tDeco approaching\tthe\tend\tof\ttheir\tspells\tat\tthe\tCamp\tNou. Carlos\tQueiroz\tconvinced\tFerguson\tto\tplay\tCristiano\tas\tthe\tteam\u2019s\tstriker\tonce again.\tFirst\tof\tall\tfor\tdefensive\treasons.\tHe\twould\tnot\tbe\tcapable\tof\ttracking\tthe Barcelona\tfull-back\tor\twinger,\twhile\tPark\tJi-sung\twould\tbe\tbetter\tsuited\tto\tsuch a\ttask.\tOn\tthe\tother\thand,\tthey\tfelt\tthat\tRonaldo\tcould\texpose\tGabriel\tMilito\u2019s supposed\tphysical\tfrailties\tand\tlack\tof\tpace. Yet\tRonaldo\tdid\tnot\tlike\tthe\tidea\t(and\teven\ttold\tme\tso\tin\tthe\tmixed\tzone\tafter both\tgames,\tfirst\toff\tthe\trecord\tand\tthen\tinto\tthe\tmicrophone).\tHis\tfacial expression\treflected\tas\tmuch\ton\tthe\tpitch. He\tmissed\ta\tpenalty\tearly\ton\tat\tthe\tCamp\tNou\tand\thad\tbarely\tbeen\tinfluential, while\ta\ttwenty-one-year-old\tLeo\tMessi\u2019s\tattacking\tplay\tat\tBarcelona\twas making\tthe\tworld\ttake\tnote.\tUnited\thad\tto\twait\tfor\ta\tPaul\tScholes\tscreamer\tin the\tsecond\tleg\tto\tdecide\tthe\ttie. It\twas\tthe\tclub\u2019s\tfirst\tChampions\tLeague\tfinal\tin\tnine\tyears.\tIt\twould\ttake\tplace in\tMoscow\tagainst\tAvram\tGrant\u2019s\tChelsea,\twho\thad\tdispatched\tLiverpool\tin\tthe semi-finals,\tand\twho\twere\tlevel\ton\tpoints\twith\tUnited\tin\tthe\tleague\twith\ttwo matches\tremaining. The\tfinal\tday\tsaw\tUnited\ttake\ton\tWigan\twhose\tdefender\tEmerson\tBoyce\tfelled Wayne\tRooney\tin\tthe\tbox\tafter\tthirty-three\tminutes.\tRonaldo\tasked\tfor\tthe\tball. His\tmiss\tagainst\tBarcelona\twas\tnot\tweighing\thim\tdown.\tHe\tscored.\tFerguson\u2019s side\twon\t2\u20130,\twhile\tChelsea\tcould\tonly\tmuster\ta\t1\u20131\tdraw\tat\thome\tto\tBolton. Manchester\tUnited\thad\twon\tthe\tPremier\tLeague\tonce\tagain. \u2018I\tfelt\tthat\tI\towed\tRonaldo\tmy\tchampionship\tmedal\tin\ta\tway\tthat\tI\thad\tonly previously\tfelt\twith\tSchmeichel\tand\tCantona\tin\t1995\u201396,\u2019\tGary\tNeville\twrote\tin","his\tbook.20 The\tChampions\tLeague\tfinal\tremained. When\tthe\tball\tthat\twas\tto\tbe\tused\tin\tthe\tfinal\tat\tthe\tLuzhniki\tstadium\tarrived\tat Carrington,\tCristiano\tasked\tto\tstay\tbehind\tafter\ttraining.\tHe\tnoticed\tthat\tit\twas very\tdifferent\tfrom\tthe\tone\tthat\thad\tbeen\tused\tin\tthe\trest\tof\tthe\tcompetition. Carlos\tQueiroz\tkept\thim\tcompany\tand\tthey\tanalysed\tits\tsurface\tand\tweight. Ronaldo\ttook\tshots\tfrom\tdifferent\tdistances\tusing\ta\trange\tof\ttechniques,\twith\this instep\tto\thit\tit\tover\ta\tfictitious\twall\tor\tthe\tinside\tof\this\tfoot\tto\tgo\taround\tit.\tHe looked\tto\tgenerate\tmaximum\timpact\tby\tkicking\tthe\tvalve\tof\tthe\tball.\tIt\tdid\tnot respond.\tQueiroz\tsuggested\ta\tchange\tof\ttechnique,\tvarying\this\trun-up\tand\this body\tposition,\tbut\tnothing\tworked. He\ttried\tthe\tsame\tthe\tfollowing\tday. \u2018He\tsuddenly\thit\tone\tand\tit\tflew\tinto\tthe\ttop\tcorner,\u2019\tthe\tPortuguese\tcoach recalled.\t\u2018\u201cThat\u2019s\tit,\tI\u2019ve\tgot\tit.\u201d\tFrom\tthat\tpoint\ton,\tthey\tall\twent\tin.\u2019 It\twas\ta\tsmall\tdetail:\the\thad\tto\ttake\tan\textra\tstep\tback\tin\this\trun-up. Ronaldo\thad\ta\tfree\trole\tin\tMoscow.\tFerguson\twanted\thim\tto\tmake\tdaring, aggressive\truns\tat\tthe\tcentre-backs\tand\tright-back\t(Avram\tGrant\tsurprisingly picked\tmidfielder\tMichael\tEssien\tto\tplay\tas\ta\tfull-back).\tThey\tknew\tthat\the could\tfrighten\tJohn\tTerry\tand\tRicardo\tCarvalho\tand\tthat\tif\tthe\tPortuguese defender\tdecided\tto\tcome\tout\tof\this\tposition,\tas\the\tfrequently\tdid,\tCristiano would\ttake\tadvantage\tof\tthe\tspace\tif\this\tteam-mates\tcould\tfind\thim.\tIf\tCarvalho man-marked\thim,\tor\tif\tTerry\tdid\tit\thimself,\tit\twould\topen\tup\tthe\tpossibility\tof getting\tin\tbehind\tthem\tusing\this\tpace. Other\tplayers\t(Rooney,\tT\u00e9vez\tand\tScholes)\thad\tto\tbe\talert\tto\ttake\tadvantage\tof each\tof\tRonaldo\u2019s\tvictories\tin\tthat\ttitanic\tbattle\twith\tthe\tcentre-backs. Ferguson\twanted\topposition\tdefenders\tto\thave\tto\tmake\tdecisions\tbased\ton Cristiano\u2019s\tpotential\tand\this\tpossible\tthreat. \u2018I\tthought\the\tcould\tgo\tpast\tEssien\twhenever\the\twanted,\u2019\trecalled\tRyan\tGiggs. \u2018But\tit\twas\tsuch\ta\ttight\taffair\tagainst\ta\ttough,\texperienced\tChelsea.\u2019 Ronaldo\tendured\tsome\tuncomfortable\tmoments\tand\tdisappeared\tfor\tperiods.","Ronaldo\tendured\tsome\tuncomfortable\tmoments\tand\tdisappeared\tfor\tperiods. \u2018Very\tfew\tplayers\tplay\twell\tin\ta\tChampions\tLeague\tfinal,\u2019\texplained\tGary Neville.\t\u2018When\tthe\tother\tteam\thas\thad\tten\tdays\tor\ttwo\tweeks\tto\tprepare\tjust\tfor you,\tthey\u2019ve\tsorted\tevery\tlittle\tdetail\tto\tstop\tyou.\u2019 There\twas\tno\tfluidity\tto\this\tgame,\tyet\the\tmanaged\tto\topen\tthe\tscoring\twith\ta header\tfrom\ta\tWes\tBrown\tcross\tfrom\tthe\tright.\tEssien\tdid\tnot\teven\ttry\tto\tjump to\tbattle\tfor\tthe\tball:\the\tmust\thave\tthought\tthat\tit\twas\ttoo\thigh.\tNot\tfor\tCristiano. Frank\tLampard\u2019s\tequaliser\tbefore\tthe\tbreak\twas\tthe\tlast\tgoal\tof\tthe\tgame\tas\ta goalless\textra-time\tperiod\tmeant\ta\tpenalty\tshootout\twas\trequired. Cristiano\tstepped\tup\tto\ttake\tthe\tthird\tpenalty.\tHe\tpicked\tup\tthe\tball\twith determination.\tHe\tkissed\tit.\tHe\tplaced\tit\ton\tthe\tspot.\tHe\tstepped\tback,\thands\ton hips.\tHe\tdid\ta\tdummy\ton\this\trun-up\tthat\twould\tgo\tagainst\tthe\trule\tbook nowadays.\tHe\tstopped\tmid-run-up.\tMaybe\the\thad\tdoubts.\tHis\tshot\twas\tat\ta comfortable\theight\tto\tthe\tgoalkeeper\u2019s\tright. Petr\tCech\tstopped\tit. He\tscrunched\tup\this\tface\tand\tbriefly\tcovered\tit\twith\tboth\thands. He\twas\tthe\tonly\tManchester\tUnited\tplayer\tto\tmiss.\tJohn\tTerry\tcould\thave\twon Chelsea\ttheir\tfirst\tChampions\tLeague,\tbut\tslipped\tat\tthe\tvital\tmoment\tand\tfailed to\tconvert.\tEdwin\tvan\tder\tSar\tdenied\tNicolas\tAnelka\tand\tit\twas\tall\tover. Ronaldo\twas\tovercome\tby\ta\tchildish\tsob\tcombining\ttears\tof\trelief\tand happiness. Such\ta\treaction\tdid\tnot\tcompute\twith\tthe\tteam\tspirit. Instead\tof\trunning\ttowards\this\tteam-mates,\the\tstayed\ton\tthe\tground\tin\tthe\tcentre circle,\tstretched\tout,\tface\tdown.\tPure\tRonaldo.\tWe\twill\tnever\tknow\tif\the\twanted to\tbe\tthe\tcentre\tof\tattention,\tbut\tsome\tplayers\ttook\this\tgesture\tin\tthat\tway. Gary\tNeville\twent\tup\tto\thim\tto\tdemand\the\tcelebrate\twith\tthe\tteam,\tbut\tRonaldo was\tenjoying\tthe\tsuccess\tin\this\town\tlittle\tworld. He\tlater\tthanked\tEdwin\tvan\tder\tSar\tfor\this\tcup-winning\tsave.","An\textraordinary\tseason\tcame\tto\ta\tclose\twith\ta\tdouble\tin\twhich\tthe\tPortuguese had\tshown\the\twas\tthe\tbest\tplayer\tin\tthe\tworld. Without\tany\tdoubt. But\tthat\tnight\thad\ta\tbittersweet\tend\tfor\tthe\tManchester\tUnited\tsupporters. Ronaldo\u2019s\tbehaviour\tin\tthe\tmixed\tzone\tseemed\tto\tsuggest\tthat\the\thad\tjust played\this\tfinal\tgame\tfor\tthe\tRed\tDevils.","FIVE THE\tREAL\tMADRID\tTRANSFER\tMAZE A\tTORTUOUS\tAGREEMENT \u2018Science\tis\tbuilt\ton\tfacts\tthe\tway\ta\thouse\tis\tbuilt\tof\tbricks:\tbut\tan\taccumulation of\tfacts\tis\tno\tmore\tscience\tthan\ta\tpile\tof\tbricks\tis\ta\thouse.\u2019 Henri\tPoincar\u00e9,\tFrench\tphilosopher\tand\tmathematician The\tconstruction\tthat\tCristiano\tRonaldo\thad\tassembled\twas\tmade\tup\tof\tmyriad pieces\tforged\tover\tthe\tyears.\tHe\twas\tnot\tborn\tlike\tthat.\tLook\tat\tthe\tfront\tand back\tcover\tof\tthis\tbook.\tLayers\tof\thard\twork\tand\tlearning\thad\tcoalesced\tfor\tthe scary\tlook\tof\tthe\tkid\tto\tbecome\tthe\tassured\tgaze\tof\tthe\tman. At\tleast\tfive\tcoatings\tare\tnecessary\tif\twe\ttake\ta\twell-known\tcomment\tby pedagogue\tJes\u00fas\tBeltr\u00e1n\tLlera,\tin\twhich\the\tanswered\tthe\tquestion\tof\thow\twe learn. Simple.\tBy\tchoosing\t(or\tstealing),\torganising,\telaborating,\tapplying\tand evaluating. Stealing?\tBeltr\u00e1n\tLlera\texplains\tit\twith\ta\tstory\tby\tRabindranath\tTagore,\tthe eminent\tBengali\twriter\tand\tpoet.\tHis\tfamily\treceived\ta\tvisit\tfrom\ta\tgreat musician\twho\toffered\tthem\tclasses\tto\tthank\tthem\tfor\ttheir\thospitality.\tThe mother\taccepted,\tbut\tRabindranath\tdid\tnot\tlearn\tanything\tfrom\tthose\tlessons. Daily\tthe\tguest\tperformed\ta\tmarvellous\tconcert.\t\u2018That\u2019s\twhere\tI\tlearnt,\u2019\ttold Tagore.\t\u2018I\tstole\teverything\tfrom\tthat\tbeautiful,\tartistic\tand\tharmonic\tmusical display.\u2019 Learning\talso\tinvolves\torganising,\tarranging\tfurniture.\tOnce\tyou\thave\tchosen and\tarranged\tit,\tthe\tinformation\tis\ttransformed\tinto\tknowledge,\tbut\tyou\thave\tto personalise\tit\tand\tmake\tit\tyour\town\tin\tthe\tsame\tway\tthat\ta\tnew\tcolour\tcan\tbe generated\tby\tthe\tfusion\tof\ttwo\tor\tmore\thues. And\tthen\tyou\thave\tto\ttry\tand\tapply\tthat\tacquired\tknowledge.\tBeltr\u00e1n\tLlera compared\tit\tto\triding\ta\tbicycle:\tsomebody\thelps\tyou\tmaintain\tyour\tbalance\tuntil you\thave\tenough\texperience\tto\tdo\tit\tfor\tyourself.\tFrom\tthat\tpoint,\tyou\tcan\tpedal and\tuse\tthe\tbicycle\thowever\tyou\twant.","and\tuse\tthe\tbicycle\thowever\tyou\twant. Evaluation,\ta\tcrucial\tcomponent,\tentails\tknowing\twhether\tgoals\thave\tbeen reached,\tnoticing\tmistakes\tmade\tand\tlearning\thow\tto\tlearn\tto\tkeep\tlearning. Cristiano\tRonaldo\thad\tseveral\tguides\tfor\tthis\tfinal\tphase;\texperienced\tpeople who\thad\tstudied\tthe\tpath\tand\twho\twere\tseasoned\tteachers.\tDuring\tthe\tPremier League\tand\tChampions\tLeague\tdouble\tseason,\tthat\tjob\twas\tmeticulously performed\tby\tRen\u00e9\tMeulensteen,\tAlex\tFerguson\u2019s\tDutch\tassistant. Although\tthey\twould\tsee\teach\tother\ton\ta\tdaily\tbasis\tat\tthe\ttraining\tground,\tRen\u00e9 took\tadvantage\tof\tRonaldo\u2019s\tthree-match\tban\tafter\tseeing\tred\tagainst Portsmouth\tto\tlook\tback\tover\tthe\tpath\ttrodden\tby\tthe\tplayer\tup\tto\tthat\tpoint\tand see\twhere\the\tfound\thimself.\tAnd\tto\toffer\tnew\tideas,\ttoo. A\tbig\tchunk\tof\tthe\teffort\tfocused\ton\tunderstanding\tthe\timpact\tof\this\tbody language. Meulensteen\trecorded\tfootage\tof\tRonaldo\tand\tshowed\tit\tto\thim.\t\u2018Look\tat yourself,\u2019\the\ttold\thim.\tThey\twatched\ta\tclip\tin\twhich\tCristiano\twas\tvisibly relieved\tand\thappy\tafter\tscoring\tan\timportant\tpenalty\tagainst\tEverton.\tHe\tturned around,\tsmiled\tand\tacknowledged\this\tteam-mates.\tAnother\tshowed\thim\tbeing fouled\tagainst\tWigan\tand\tcalmly\tgetting\tto\this\tfeet\tas\tif\tnothing\thad\thappened. However,\tafter\tanother\tfoul,\the\twas\tdisgusted\tand\tdemonstrated\this\tanger, having\tclearly\tbeen\taffected\tby\tthe\tincident.\tThere\twas\talso\tthe\tstunning\tfree- kick\tthat\the\tscored\tagainst\tPortsmouth,\tafter\twhich\the\tturned\taround\tand celebrated\tas\tif\tto\tsay,\t\u2018Only\tI\tcould\u2019ve\tdone\tthat,\tI\u2019m\tthe\tman.\u2019\tThere\twas\ta similar\tincident\tagainst\tSporting\tLisbon\twhen\ta\tspectacular\tRonaldo\trocket\tflew into\tthe\tcorner.\tRonaldo\tfaced\tthe\tcrowd,\tshrugged\this\tshoulders,\tarched\this\tlips down\tand\theld\this\thands\tout. \u2018What\twere\tyou\ttrying\tto\tsay?\t\u201cSorry,\tI\tscored\tagain?\u201d\u2019\tRen\u00e9\tasked\thim.\t\u2018Or \u201cOnly\tI\tcould\u2019ve\tscored\tthat?\u201d\u2019 Meulensteen\tsaw\tit\tas\ta\tgesture\tof\tself-fulfilment.\t\u2018That\u2019s\twhat\tmillions\tof people\tthink.\tThat\u2019s\twhy\tthey\tthink\tyou\u2019re\tarrogant,\u2019\the\ttold\thim.\t\u2018You\toften\tdo the\tsame\tthing\twhen\tyou\tget\ta\tkick.\t\u201cYou\tcan\u2019t\tkick\tme,\tI\u2019m\tCristiano Ronaldo.\u201d\tWrong\treaction!\u2019 Perception\tof\tthe\topposition\tis\tcrucial.\tRoger\tFederer\tplays\tas\tif\the\tis\tnever","Perception\tof\tthe\topposition\tis\tcrucial.\tRoger\tFederer\tplays\tas\tif\the\tis\tnever exhausted\tand\tnothing\tgets\tto\thim.\tThat\tis\thow\the\twins\tmany\tmatches\tbefore\the even\tstarts\tthem. Ronaldo\thad\tto\taccept\tthat\tit\twas\tbetter\tfor\topponents\tto\tkick\tand\tfoul\thim\tthan the\tother\tway\tround.\t\u2018The\tmoment\tthey\tstop\tdoing\tthat,\tthey\u2019ve\tfound\ta\tway\tto break\tyou,\u2019\tRen\u00e9\ttold\thim.\tAll\the\thad\tto\tdo\tis\tsee\tit\tcoming\tand\treact\tdiligently and\tintelligently.\tAs\tif\tthe\topposition\tdid\tnot\texist.\tAs\tif\teverything\tthey\tdid\tto try\tto\tstop\thim\tdid\tnot\taffect\thim. Ferguson\u2019s\tassistant\talso\ttried\tsomething\tto\tincrease\tCristiano\u2019s\tgoalscoring ability\tby\tadvising\thim\tto\tsteal\tthe\tessence\tof\tother\tstrikers. \u2018Set\ta\ttarget\tfor\tthe\tnew\tseason,\u2019\tRen\u00e9\tsuggested.\t\u2018I\tcan\tscore\tthirty\tor\tthirty- five\tgoals,\u2019\tstated\tthe\tforward.\t\u2018Well,\tI\tthink\tyou\tcan\tget\tto\tforty,\u2019\tthe\tcoach answered,\tbefore\ttrying\tto\teducate\thim\ton\tthe\ttactics\tthat\twould\thelp\thim improve. To\tstart\twith,\the\tmade\thim\tsee\tthat\the\twas\tnot\ta\tfinisher.\tNot\tyet.\tHe\thad\tscored twenty-three\tgoals\tthe\tprevious\tseason,\ta\tbeatable\tfigure\tif\tthe\tplayer\tabandoned the\tidea\tof\tscoring\tthe\tperfect\tgoal.\t\u2018Look\tat\tme,\tI\u2019ve\tput\tit\tin\tthe\ttop\tcorner,\u2019 seemed\tto\tbe\this\tmessage\twith\tevery\tshot.\t\u2018The\ttop\tplayers\tare\tthe\tones\tthat\tlift the\tteam,\tnot\tthemselves,\u2019\tmaintained\tRen\u00e9. \u2018I\ttook\thim\tupstairs\tafter\ttraining\tand\tlet\thim\twatch\tclips\tof\tDenis\tLaw,\tGeorge Best,\tRuud\tVan\tNistelrooy\tand\tSolskj\u00e6r.\u2019 \u2018Just\ttell\tme\twhat\tyou\tsee,\u2019\tRen\u00e9\tasked\thim. \u2018Basically,\tGeorge\tBest\twas\tthe\tmost\tlike\thim,\tscored\tthe\tmost\texciting\tgoals, whereas\tthe\tothers\twere\tall\tclinical\tfinishers.\tTheir\trange\tof\tfinishing:\ttap-ins, volleys,\theaders,\tone-touch,\ttwo-touch\t.\t.\t.\tI\tsaid,\t\u201cYou\u2019re\tlike\tBest,\tbut\twe\tneed to\tadd\tthis\t(the\tothers)\tto\tyour\tgame,\tand\tthat\u2019s\twhat\twe\u2019re\tgoing\tto\twork\ton.\u201d\u2019 Individual\tsessions\twere\torganised\tto\tfocus\ton\tRonaldo\u2019s\tvisualisation\tof\tgoals, his\tbody\tmovement,\tidentifying\tthe\tbest\tparts\tof\tthe\tpenalty\tarea\tfor\tscoring, technical\tdetails\tand\truns. In\tlate\tJanuary\tof\tthat\t2007\u201308\tseason,\tRonaldo\thad\tscored\ttwenty-seven\tgoals and\tMeulensteen\tasked\thim\tto\tadjust\this\ttarget. An\tinsatiable,\tmentally\tstrong\tRonaldo\tended\tup\twith\tforty-two\tgoals\tover\tthe","An\tinsatiable,\tmentally\tstrong\tRonaldo\tended\tup\twith\tforty-two\tgoals\tover\tthe campaign,\talthough\tRen\u00e9\tbelieves\tthere\twas\ta\tkey\tmoment\twhen\tthe\tplayer lapsed\tback\tinto\this\told\thabits. The\tpenalty\tthat\the\tmissed\tin\tthe\tChampions\tLeague\tfinal\tagainst\tChelsea:\t\u2018Key moment,\teverbody\tlooking,\the\tis\tthe\tcentre\tof\tthe\tuniverse.\tHis\tfocus\tagain totally\ton\thimself,\trather\tthan\tthe\tteam.\tSo\twhat\thappens?\tHe\tmissed\tit.\tBecause he\tdidn\u2019t\twant\tto\tscore\tfor\tthe\tteam,\the\twanted\tto\tscore\tfor\thimself.\u2019 In\tthe\tmixed\tzone\tin\tMoscow\tafter\tthe\tChampions\tLeague\tfinal,\tRonaldo\u2019s answers\tposed\tmore\tquestions\tthan\tthey\tclarified,\tfollowing\ton\tfrom\tsome statements\tmade\tto\tthe\tSpanish\tpress\ta\tfew\tdays\tearlier:\t\u2018I\u2019ve\tsaid\ta\tthousand times\tthat\tmy\tdream\tis\tto\tplay\tin\tSpain.\tSometimes\tyour\tdreams\tdon\u2019t\tcome true,\tbut\tI\u2019m\tstill\tdreaming.\tI\u2019m\thappy\tat\tManchester\tUnited.\tAs\tfor\tmy\tfuture, nobody\tknows\twhat\u2019s\tgoing\tto\thappen.\u2019 Real\tMadrid\twere\tevidently\tin\tthe\thunt.\tHad\tthe\tfirst\tconversations\tbetween\tthe Spanish\tgiants\tand\tJorge\tMendes\ttaken\tplace?\tOr\tdid\tCristiano\u2019s\twords\tsimply reflect\this\tlonging\tfor\ta\ttransfer?\tThe\tanswer\tis\tsimple:\twhen\tplayers\tsend\tout such\ta\tmessage,\tsomething\thas\talready\tbeen\tsaid\tbetween\tthe\tseducer\tand\tthe seduced.\tWhy\tbring\tit\tup\totherwise? Ronaldo\twas\tthe\tbest\tplayer\tin\tthe\tworld\tin\t2008.\tThe\ttype\tof\tplayer\tthey\tlike\tin Madrid.\tThere\twas\ttalk\tthat\tthe\tEuros\tin\tAustria\tand\tSwitzerland\tcould\tbe\tthe perfect\tshop\twindow. \u2018I\thad\thim\tround\tthe\tneck\tsaying,\t\u201cCome\ton,\tman,\tstay,\twe\u2019re\tgoing\tto\tmake history\tat\tthis\tclub\ttogether.\tWe\u2019ll\tbe\tthe\tbest\tteam\tto\tever\tplay\tfor\tMan United\u201d,\u2019\trecalled\tRio\tFerdinand.\t\u2018He\tsaid,\t\u201cYeah,\tI\u2019d\tlove\tto\tbut\t.\t.\t.\u201d\tI\twas\talso holding\tJorge\tMendes\tround\tthe\tneck\tsaying,\t\u201cCome\ton,\tman!\tMake\thim\tstay!\u201d\u2019 From\tthe\tday\tof\this\tarrival\tat\tOld\tTrafford,\tSir\tAlex\tand\tCarlos\tQueiroz\toften asked\tthemselves\thow\tlong\tthey\tcould\thold\ton\tto\thim.\tThe\tPortuguese\tcoach had\tit\tclear\tin\this\tmind:\t\u2018If\tyou\tget\tfive\tyears\tout\tof\thim,\tyou\u2019ve\tstruck\tgold. There\u2019s\tno\tprecedent\tfor\ta\tPortuguese\tplayer\tgoing\tto\tanother\tcountry\tat seventeen\tyears\told\tand\tstaying\tfive\tyears.\u2019\tFerguson\tknew\tthat,\tas\tRonaldo\twas now\ta\tglobal\tidol\tand\tthat\tfive-year\tperiod\twas\tup,\tit\twould\tbe\tdifficult\tto manage\thim\tas\the\thad\tso\tfar\tbeen\table\tto.","In\taddition\tto\tthe\tdaily\twarmth\tshown\tto\thim\tat\tCarrington,\tthe\tclub\tmade\tit\tits mission\tto\tensure\tthere\twere\tno\tcontract-related\tproblems.\tOnly\tonce\tdid\ta\tsmall conflict\toccur\twhen\tMendes\tsent\tout\ta\tmessage\tthrough\tthe\tPortuguese\tpress\tin February\t2005\tthat\tthe\tlatest\tcontract\toffer\twas\tnot\tenough.\tManchester\tUnited reacted\taccordingly\tand,\talthough\tnegotiations\tprogressed\tat\ta\tsnail\u2019s\tpace,\ta new\tdeal\twas\tpenned\tin\tNovember:\ta\ttwo-year\textension\t(until\t2010)\tworth \u00a350,000\ta\tweek. In\tApril\t2007,\tboth\tMendes\tand\tthe\tclub\tagreed\tthat\tRonaldo\u2019s\tspectacular season\tdeserved\ta\treward\tin\tthe\tshape\tof\ta\tnew\tdeal:\tuntil\t2012\ton\t\u00a3119,000\ta week. The\tseason\tof\tthe\tdouble\tleague\tand\tChampions\twin\twas\tCristiano\u2019s\tfifth\tat United\tand\tthe\tone\tthat\tQueiroz\tbelieved\tcould\tbe\this\tlast. \u2018We\tknew\tthat\the\twanted\tto\tleave\tsince\tsummer\t2008,\u2019\texplained\tGary\tNeville. \u2018He\tused\tto\tdiscuss\tit\topenly\tin\tthe\tdressing\troom.\tHe\twanted\tto\tplay\tin\ta\thot climate\tand\tthe\tprestige\tof\tReal\tMadrid\twas\ta\tmagnet\tfor\thim.\u2019 The\tPortuguese\tbecame\tthe\tmain\tfavourite\tto\twin\tthe\tBallon\td\u2019Or.\tAlthough Ferguson\thistorically\tpreferred\tto\tditch\tthose\twhose\tcommitment\tto\tthe\tteam could\tbe\tadversely\taffected\tby\tsuch\tindividual\trecognition,\the\twas\twilling\tto make\tan\texception\tfor\tCristiano. \u2018The\tbest\twe\tcould\tdo\twas\tget\thim\tto\tstay\tfor\tanother\ttwelve\tmonths,\u2019\tstated Gary\tNeville. The\tfirst\ttime\tI\tspoke\tto\tCristiano\twas\tat\tthe\theart\tof\tOld\tTrafford.\tIt\tis\tstrange, but\tif\tyou\tare\ton\ttelevision,\tand\tI\thad\tbeen\ton\tSky\tSports\tfor\tten\tyears\tby\tthen, introductions\tare\toften\tunnecessary.\tA\tnod\tof\trecognition\tis\tsufficient\tto\tstart\ta chat.\tBack\tthen\tthere\twas\ttalk\tof\tReal\tMadrid\u2019s\tinterest\tand\tCristiano\tknew\tthat I\thad\tbeen\tmentioning\tit\tregularly\ton\tour\tweekly\tSpanish\tfootball\tshow,\tRevista de\tla\tLiga. Ronaldo\twould\tlater\tmake\tuse\tof\tthat\tplatform. I\tnoticed\thow\the\tplayed\twith\tthe\tSpanish\tpress\tin\tthe\tdays\tleading\tup\tto\tthe Champions\tLeague\tfinal\tand\thow\the\tdispersed\this\tdoubts\tthat\tnight\tin\tMoscow. When\the\ttook\tleave\tof\tthe\tpress\troom\tat\tthe\tLuzhniki\tstadium,\the\tlooked\tat\tme with\ta\tmischievous\tsmile.","with\ta\tmischievous\tsmile. We\tsaw\teach\tother\tagain\tat\tEuro\t2008.\tHe\tgave\tme\tan\texclusive\tinterview.\tA little\tbeauty. Entrusted\twith\tmanaging\ta\ttransitional\tperiod\tin\tthe\tPortugal\tsquad,\tScolari\thad to\tresolve\tthe\tsmall\tmatter\tof\tcaptaincy\tbefore\tgetting\tto\tAustria\tand Switzerland.\tRonaldo\twas,\twithout\tdoubt,\tthe\tstar\tman,\tbut\tthe\trest\tof\tthe\tgroup did\tnot\tsee\thim\tas\ta\tcaptain.\tFurthermore,\tBig\tPhil\tknew\tthat\tappointing\thim could\tincrease\tthe\tenvy\tthat\twas\tstarting\tto\tfilter\tthrough\this\tplayers\ttowards\tthe Madeiran. The\tprevious\tcaptain\thad\tbeen\tNuno\tGomes,\tone\tof\tthe\theroes\tof\tthe\t\u2018golden generation\u2019\tand\tthe\tperfect\tman\tto\tbridge\tthe\tgap\tbetween\tthe\tveterans\tand\tthe ambitious\tyoungsters\twho\twere\timpatiently\twaiting\ttheir\tturn.\tScolari\teventually decided\ton\tjoint\tcaptaincy:\tNuno,\tCristiano\t(as\tsecond\tcaptain\thaving\talready sported\tthe\tarmband\tin\ta\tfriendly\tagainst\tBrazil\tat\tthe\tEmirates\tin\tLondon), Petit,\tRicardo\tCarvalho\tand\tSim\u00e3o\tSabrosa. The\tBrazilian,\tthough,\tdid\tnot\tmake\tallowances\tfor\tsomething\tthat\twould\tend\tup being\tpivotal.\tRonaldo\thad\topened\tPandora\u2019s\tBox\twith\this\tenigmatic\tstatements about\this\tfuture\tand\this\tlife\twas\tto\tbecome\ta\tmedia\tcircus\tthat\twould\taffect\this performances.\tScolari,\tin\thindsight,\tadmitted\tas\tmuch\thimself. Football-wise,\tthe\tnational\tteam\tcoach\thad\trelieved\tmost\tof\tthe\told\tguard\tof their\tduties\tand\tbegan\tto\tsurround\tRonaldo\twith\tfacilitators\tas\twell\tas\ttalented midfielders.\tIt\twas\tno\tlonger\tRui\tCosta\tand\tFigo\tpulling\tthe\tstrings\tin\tmidfield, but\tDeco,\twho\tput\tin\tdominant,\tspectacular\tperformances\tthat\tsummer.\tRicardo Carvalho\thad\treplaced\tFernando\tCouto. In\tthe\tgroup\tstage\tof\tthe\tEuros,\tPortugal\tfinished\ttop\tafter\twins\tover\tTurkey\tand the\tCzech\tRepublic.\tDefeat\tin\tthe\tfinal\tgame\tagainst\tSwitzerland\twas\tof\tno significance.\tGermany\tsurprisingly\tfinished\tsecond\tin\ttheir\tgroup,\tmeaning\tthey would\tface\tScolari\u2019s\tside\tin\tthe\tquarter-finals. The\tGermans,\tled\tby\tan\timperious\tMichael\tBallack,\tmade\tlight\twork\tof\ta subdued\tPortugal\tside\twhose\tshort-lived\tdreams\tof\tgrabbing\ta\tlate\tequaliser after\tH\u00e9lder\tPostiga\thalved\tthe\tdeficit\tin\tthe\teighty-seventh\tminute\twere\tquickly dashed\tas\tthey\twere\tdeservedly\tdumped\tout\tof\tthe\tcompetition.","dashed\tas\tthey\twere\tdeservedly\tdumped\tout\tof\tthe\tcompetition. Ballack\twas\tGermany\u2019s\ttalisman.\tRonaldo\twas\tnot\tPortugal\u2019s\tjust\tyet.\tThe striker\tdid\tnot\tlink\tup\twell\twith\tDeco\tand\tdisappeared\tfrom\tthe\tgame. Another\timportant\tmatch\tin\twhich\tRonaldo\tfound\tit\thard\tto\ttake\tthe\tbull\tby\tthe horns. That\twas\tthe\tday\tI\tfelt\tclosest\tto\tCristiano. After\telimination\tfrom\tthe\tEuropean\tChampionships,\tthe\tplayer\twalked\tpast\tthe group\tof\tjournalists\twho\twere\twaiting\tfor\thim\tin\tthe\tmixed\tzone\twithout stopping.\tHe\twas\tthe\tman\tof\tthe\tmoment\tand\tthis\twas\tthe\tlast\tchance\tto\thear from\thim\tthat\tsummer. On\tthat\tvery\tsame\tday,\tReal\tMadrid\thad\tadmitted\tthat\tthey\twere\twaiting\tfor Ronaldo\tto\tmake\ta\tmove\tthat\twould\tallow\tthem\tto\topen\tnegotiations\twith Manchester\tUnited.\tHad\the\tplayed\this\tlast\tgame\tfor\tUnited?\tWhy\tdid\the\tspeak so\topenly\tabout\this\tdesire\tto\tgo\tto\tSpain? He\tlooked\tat\tthe\tfloor\twhile\tholding\ta\twashbag\tand\tavoiding\tquestions.\tHe limped\tslightly. I\tusually\tstand\tat\tthe\tend\tof\tthe\tmixed\tzone\tin\torder\tto\thave\tsmall\tprivate conversations\twith\tthe\tplayers\twhom\tI\tget\ton\twith\tbest. I\tlooked\tat\thim.\tHe\tsmiled\tat\tme\tand\tslowed\tdown,\twhich\tI\ttook\tas\ta\tsignal.\tI took\tout\tmy\tvoice\trecorder\tand\twe\thad\ta\tchat. \u2018I\thave\ta\tdream.\u2019 \u2018Not\tall\tdreams\tcome\ttrue,\tbut\tI\twant\tthis\tone\tto.\u2019 \u2018Everyone\tknows\twhat\tI\twant.\u2019 \u2018I\thope\tthat\tthings\tcan\tbe\tresolved\tover\tthe\tsummer.\u2019 \u2018I\u2019ll\talways\tbe\tgrateful\tto\tManchester\tUnited.\u2019 I\timmediately\twrote\tan\tarticle\tfor\tmy\trecently\tlaunched\twebsite\tand\tcalled\tSky Sports\tNews.\tI\texplained\twhat\tRonaldo\thad\tjust\ttold\tme,\tI\tannounced\tthat\this","Sports\tNews.\tI\texplained\twhat\tRonaldo\thad\tjust\ttold\tme,\tI\tannounced\tthat\this full\tstatement\twas\ton\tmy\twebsite. But\tthe\tsite\tcrashed\tand\tbarely\tanyone\twas\table\tto\tview\tthem. In\tany\tcase,\tCristiano\u2019s\tmessage\thad\tbeen\tclearly\tsent\tout. What\thad\tmade\thim\tdeclare\this\tintentions? What\tfollowed\twas\ta\ttumultuous\tand\tfascinating\tstory\tof\tintrigue\tand disagreements. For\tRonaldo\tand\tReal\tMadrid,\tthe\tromance\tbegan\tin\t2003. Although\tJorge\tMendes\tspoke\tto\tthe\tSpanish\tclub\tabout\ta\ttalented\tseventeen- year-old\tthat\thalf\tof\tEurope\twas\tfighting\tover,\tReal\tnever\tseriously\ttried\tto\tsign him\tfrom\tSporting. Los\tBlancos\treceived\treports\ton\tCristiano\tafter\this\timpressive\tToulon\tUnder-21 tournament\tand\tsent\ta\tscout\tto\twatch\tthe\tfriendly\tagainst\tManchester\tUnited. Queiroz,\twho\thad\tjust\tbeen\tappointed\tReal\tMadrid\tcoach\tthat\tsummer,\tmade\this new\temployers\taware\tof\this\tcountryman\u2019s\tpotential,\twithout\toverly\tinsisting because\the\tknew\tthat\tFerguson\twas\tafter\thim. The\tReal\tMadrid\tboard\tbegan\tshowing\treal\tinterest\tin\ta\tphone\tconversation\ttwo years\tlater\tin\tthe\tsummer\tof\t2005.\tAlmost\tinnocently.\tAlmost. Jos\u00e9\t\u00c1ngel\tS\u00e1nchez,\tthe\tchief\texecutive\tand\tthe\tman\tin\tcharge\tof\tthe\tday-to-day running\tof\tthe\tclub\tat\tthe\ttime,\twas\tin\tthe\tcar\twhen\the\treceived\ta\tcall\tfrom\tJorge Mendes.\tHe\tsoon\tasked,\t\u2018When\tare\twe\tgoing\tto\tbring\tCristiano\there?\u2019 \u2018That\u2019s\timpossible!\u2019\treplied\tthe\tagent.\tRonaldo\thad\tonly\tbeen\tat\tManchester United\tfor\ttwo\tyears\tand\twas\tstill\tstriving\tto\tfulfil\this\tpotential. \u2018That\u2019s\tfine,\tbut\twe\thave\tto\tbring\thim\tto\tReal\tMadrid\tone\tday,\u2019\tS\u00e1nchez\ttold him. Such\tconversations\ttake\tplace\tby\tthe\tdozen\tand\tare\timplicitly\tsmall commitments.\tJos\u00e9\t\u00c1ngel,\ta\tman\twith\ta\tconstant\twelcoming\tsmile\ton\this\tface and\tthe\tcharm\tof\tone\twho\tnever\tseems\tto\tbe\tdoing\tbusiness,\thad\tjust\topened\tup a\tline\tof\tcommunication.\tFrom\tthat\tmoment\tonwards,\tCristiano\talmost\talways","a\tline\tof\tcommunication.\tFrom\tthat\tmoment\tonwards,\tCristiano\talmost\talways came\tup\tin\tconversations\twith\tMendes. That\t\u2018he\thas\tto\tcome\there\u2019\tline\twas\tthe\tticket\tto\tfuture\tnegotiations. Ronaldo\tclearly\tfitted\tthe\tReal\tMadrid\t\u2018gal\u00e1ctico\u2019\tphase.\tJos\u00e9\t\u00c1ngel\talso\tknew that\tCristiano\t(just\tlike\this\tmother)\thad\ta\tsoft\tspot\tfor\tReal\tMadrid.\tWhat\tthe chief\texecutive\twas\tnot\taware\tof\twas\tthat\ta\tsixteen-year-old\tRonaldo\thad\ttold his\tfriends\twhile\twatching\tReal\tin\taction\ton\ttelevision,\t\u2018I\u2019ll\tplay\tfor\tthat\tteam one\tday.\u2019 The\tpresident\tthat\tsummer\t2005\twas\tFlorentino\tP\u00e9rez,\ta\tman\twho\tseems\tto\thave hundreds\tof\tthe\tsame\tcoloured\tsuits\tand\twho\tcarries\this\tauthority\tlightly,\twith the\tease\tof\ta\tseasoned\tpolitician. He\tsurprisingly\tabandoned\tthe\tclub\tpresidency\tjust\ta\tfew\tmonths\tlater\tin February\t2006,\tdisillusioned\twith\tthe\tbehaviour\tof\tthe\tstars\tthat\the\thad\tspoilt\tby constantly\tgiving\tin\tto\ttheir\tdemands. Or\tso\twe\tthink.\tHe\tnever\tclearly\texplained\this\texit,\twhich\tseemed\tto\tbe\ta\thot- headed\treaction\trather\tthan\ta\tpremeditated\tdecision.\tIn\tfact,\the\tstarted\tto\tplan\this return\tno\tsooner\tthan\the\thad\tleft\tthe\tpresidential\tseat. That\tpuzzling\tbehaviour\tby\tFlorentino\twas\tthe\troot\tcause\tof\tan\tinstitutional\tcivil war\tthat\tturned\tthe\tRonaldo\tdeal\tinto\ta\tpolitical\tsaga. P\u00e9rez\tdecided\tto\tleave\this\tpresidency\tto\tthe\tincumbent\tdirector\tFernando Mart\u00edn.\tNot\teverybody\taccepted\tthe\tdecision,\thowever.\tRam\u00f3n\tCalder\u00f3n,\ta lawyer\tand\tone\tof\tP\u00e9rez\u2019s\tformer\texecutives,\tunderstood\tthat\tan\telectoral process\twas\trequired.\tRam\u00f3n\tis\ta\ttraditional\tman\tof\tan\tadvanced\tage\twho belongs\tto\tanother\tera,\texemplified\tby\tthe\tway\the\tspeaks,\this\tclassic\tstyle\tand tailor-made\tsuits.\tHe\tsounds\tand\tlooks\tlike\tsomeone\twho\thas\tbeen\tto\tthe\tend\tof the\tworld\tand\tback. He\thad\tnever\tconsidered\tbeing\tpresident;\the\tactually\tfelt\tcomfortable\twatching the\tbulls\tfrom\tbehind\tthe\tbarrier,\tas\ta\tgood\tsecond\tor\tthird\tman\tin\tcharge.\tAfter discussions\twith\this\tfamily,\tthough,\the\tdecided\tto\tenter\tthe\tbattle\tand\tFernando Mart\u00edn\tagreed\tto\tcall\telections\tfor\t2\tJuly\t2006. The\twhole\tprocess\twas\ttarnished\tfrom\tday\tone.\tThe\texchange\tof\tpersonal accusations\twas\tbesmirching\tthe\tcandidates\u2019\tprestige\tand\tthe\tpostal\tvote,\twhich","accusations\twas\tbesmirching\tthe\tcandidates\u2019\tprestige\tand\tthe\tpostal\tvote,\twhich was\tunder\tsuspicion,\twas\tcancelled\tin\tcourt\tafter\tCalder\u00f3n\tfiled\ta\tcomplaint. The\tlawyer\twon\tthe\telections\tand\tdecided\tto\taccept\tthe\tmandate\twithout\tcalling a\trepeat\tvote,\tdespite\tnot\thaving\tgreat\tsupport\tamong\tthe\tpublic\tor\tthe\tmedia. He\thad\tconvinced\tclub\tmembers\tby\thaving\tthe\tlegendary\tPedja\tMijatovic\tin\this ranks,\tbut\this\tpresidency\thad\ta\tconstant\tair\tof\tcrisis:\tFlorentino\tseemed\tto\tenjoy feeding\tthe\tidea\tthat\the\twas\tconsidering\this\treturn.\tAnd\the\tcasts\ta\tlong\tshadow. Calder\u00f3n\tused\tthe\tbait\tof\ta\tgenerous\tsalary\tincrease\tto\tconvince\tJos\u00e9\t\u00c1ngel S\u00e1nchez\tto\tstay\tand\tperform\tthe\tsame\trole\tthat\the\thad\tdone\tso\tbrilliantly\twith P\u00e9rez.\tLeaving\tthe\texecutor\tbehind\tthe\tgal\u00e1ctico\tphilosophy\twithin\tthe\tclub\twas a\tstrange\tstrategic\tmove\tby\tCalder\u00f3n.\tUnless,\tas\tsome\tsources\tclaim,\tCalder\u00f3n was\tinitially\tFlorentino\u2019s\tsuccessor\tentrusted\twith\tthe\tjob\tof\tkeeping\tthe\thot\tseat warm\tuntil\tP\u00e9rez\torganised\this\tcomeback. A\tmonth\tafter\tCalder\u00f3n\ttook\tover,\thead\tcoach\tFabio\tCapello\tasked\tthe\tclub\tto cancel\ta\ttour\tof\tChile\tthat\tex-president\tFlorentino\thad\tcommitted\tto.\tThe\tItalian believed\tthat\tthe\tflight\tfrom\tthe\tUnited\tStates,\tthe\tprevious\tdestination,\tand\tthe temperature\tchange\twould\taffect\tthe\tteam\tunnecessarily.\tCalder\u00f3n\tagreed\twith his\tcoach\tand\tP\u00e9rez\tnever\tforgave\thim.\tAccording\tto\tsome\tsources,\tthat\tis\twhere the\trelationship\tbetween\tthe\ttwo\tbroke\tdown. If\tCalder\u00f3n\treally\twas\tchosen\tby\tP\u00e9rez,\the\tdid\tnot\twait\tlong\tto\tdemonstrate\this independence\tand\the\tcertainly\tbelieved\thimself\tcapable\tof\tweathering\tany storm.\tYet\tFlorentino\u2019s\tactivity\tbehind\tthe\tscenes,\twhich\twas\tbacked\tby\tgreater media\tsupport\tthan\tCalder\u00f3n\u2019s,\tgradually\tate\taway\tat\tthe\tnew\tpresident\u2019s\ttenure. There\twas\talways\tone\tsolution\tto\twin\teveryone\tover.\tAs\thas\talways\tbeen\tthe case. Sign\ta\tstar. In\tJanuary\t2007,\tsix\tmonths\tafter\tthe\tpresidential\tchange,\tJorge\tMendes\tand Jos\u00e9\t\u00c1ngel\tS\u00e1nchez\ttouched\tbase\tonce\tagain.\tSoon\tafter,\tRam\u00f3n\tCalder\u00f3n\twas told\tthe\tgood\tnews:\tthe\tagent\tconfirmed\tthat\tthe\tplayer\twanted\tto\tleave\tUnited. He\thad\tonly\twon\tone\tFA\tCup\tand\tone\tLeague\tCup\twith\tthe\tEnglish\tclub,\tand\the was\ton\ttrack\tto\twin\this\tfirst\tPremier\tLeague\ttitle.\tYet\the\twas\twilling\tto\tbring\this English\tadventure\tto\tan\tend.","\u2018I\tknow\tReal\tMadrid\tare\tinterested,\tbut\tI\tcan\u2019t\tspeak\tabout\tit.\tAlex\tFerguson and\tCarlos\tQueiroz\tknow\ttoo\tand\thave\tbanned\tme\tfrom\tspeaking\tabout\tReal Madrid,\u2019\trevealed\tRonaldo\twith\ta\tcertain\tlevel\tof\tambiguity\tthat\teveryone\twas able\tto\tsee\tthrough.\tFerguson\timmediately\tresponded:\t\u2018We\tsell\tthe\tplayers\twe want\tto\tsell\tand\tthere\u2019s\tno\tway\tCristiano\tRonaldo\tis\tgoing\tto\tleave.\u2019\tFirst\tround. Ram\u00f3n\tCalder\u00f3n\tknew\tthat\the\thad\tmade\tthe\tright\tcall\tafter\tenjoying\tthe Champions\tLeague\tsemi-final\tbetween\tManchester\tUnited\tand\tAC\tMilan\tin spring\t2007.\tCristino\tRonaldo\tand\tKak\u00e1\t(an\telectoral\tpromise\tmade\tby\tCalder\u00f3n that\tPedja\tMijatovic\tdid\tnot\tfollow\tup\tafter\tdiscovering\tthat\tthe\tBrazilian\thad hip\tproblems\tand\ta\tdodgy\tknee)\twere\ta\tlevel\tabove\tthe\trest.\tAt\tleast\tone\tof\tthem had\tto\twear\tthe\tfamous\twhite\tof\tReal\tMadrid,\tthe\tpresident\tthought. In\tMarch\t2007,\tRonaldo\tinsisted\ton\timplementing\tthe\tstrategy\tthat\twould dominate\tthe\tfollowing\ttwelve\tmonths:\t\u2018Everyone\tknows\tthat\tI\tlove\tSpain.\tI\u2019d like\tto\tplay\tthere\tone\tday.\tHowever,\tI\u2019m\thappy\tat\tManchester\tUnited.\tIf\tI\tdon\u2019t leave\tnow,\tif\tI\tleave\tin\ttwo,\tthree,\tfour\tor\tfive\tyears,\tI\u2019d\tbe\thappy.\u2019 One\tmonth\tlater,\the\textended\this\tManchester\tUnited\tcontract\tuntil\t2012.\tIt included\tsomething\trather\tunusual\tfor\tPremier\tLeague\tplayers:\ta\t\u20ac75\tmillion release\tclause\tin\tcase\tReal\tMadrid\tor\tanother\tbig\tclub\tdecided\tto\tsplash\tout\ton him.\tThere\twas\tone\tcondition:\tconfidentiality\twas\tessential;\tnobody\tcould\tmake public\tthat\tRonaldo\thad\ta\tprice. \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tlike\tEnglish\tclubs\t.\t.\t.\tI\twant\tto\tsee\tmy\tson\tplay\tfor\tReal\tMadrid\tbefore\tI die,\u2019\tDolores\ttold\tAS\tin\tJanuary\t2008,\tand\tshe\twas\talso\tphotographed\twith\tan image\tof\ther\tson\u2019s\tface\tsuperimposed\ton\tto\ta\tReal\tMadrid\tplayer.\t\u2018In\tthe\tfuture .\t.\t.\u2019\tshe\tadded.21\tAlthough\tuttered\tin\tall\tinnocence\tby\ta\tmother\twho\twas\tsimply convinced\ther\tson\u2019s\tdestiny\twas\tmarked\tin\tthe\tstars,\tsuch\tcomments\twere\tnot well\treceived\tat\tManchester\tUnited. Dolores\u2019s\twish\twas\tcombined\twith\tconstant\tpublic\tstatements\tfrom\tCalder\u00f3n about\tsigning\tRonaldo.\tThe\tMadrid\tpress\tpublished\treports\tthat\tLos\tBlancos were\twilling\tto\tpay\t\u20ac120\tmillion\tfor\tthe\tplayer,\tbut\tthe\tclub\tknew\tthat\t\u20ac75 million\twould\tdo\tthe\ttrick.\tWhile\tJos\u00e9\t\u00c1ngel\tS\u00e1nchez\tstayed\tin\ttouch\twith Mendes,\tCalder\u00f3n\twas\tin\tdirect\tcontact\twith\tUnited\u2019s\tchief\texecutive,\tDavid Gill.\tWhenever\tthe\tReal\tMadrid\tpresident\tasked\tabout\tthe\tPortuguese\u2019s situation,\the\twould\treceive\ta\tpolite\trebuttal.\tTheir\trelationship\tgradually deteriorated.","David\tGill\tfinally\tresponded\tto\tthe\tpressure\tthat\twas\tbeing\tapplied\tfrom\tMadrid: \u2018There\u2019s\tno\tway\twe\u2019re\tgoing\tto\tsell\thim.\tThe\tmoney\tdoesn\u2019t\tmatter.\u2019 Manchester\tUnited\tdecided\tto\tsend\tRam\u00f3n\tCalder\u00f3n\ta\tletter\timploring\thim\tto stop\tthe\ttalk\tabout\tRonaldo\tas\tthey\thad\tno\tintention\tof\tgetting\trid\tof\thim\t\u2013\tthe player\twould\tcontinue\tto\twear\tthe\tred\tof\tManchester. Real\tMadrid\tstill\thad\ta\tvery\tpowerful\tweapon\tin\ttheir\tarmoury:\tRonaldo\twas willing\tto\ttighten\tthe\tscrew. In\tsummer\t2008,\tafter\tbeating\tChelsea\tin\tthe\tChampions\tLeague\tfinal\tand clinching\tthe\tchampionship,\tCristiano\tbelieved\tthat\the\thad\treached\tthe\tsummit in\tEngland.\tHe\thad\tspent\thalf\tof\this\tcareer\tthere\tand,\tat\tthe\tage\tof\ttwenty-three, was\tready\tfor\tthe\tnext\tstep:\tto\tconquer\tthe\tworld. Nothing\twas\thappening\tby\tchance,\tnot\tleast\this\timpromptu\tinterview\twith\tme\tin Moscow\tor\tthe\tone\this\tmother\tgave\tto\tAS.\tThe\tstrategy\tdevised\tby\tJorge Mendes\tand\tCristiano,\twhich\twas\talso\tsuggested\tin\tthe\tupper\techelons\tof\tthe Santiago\tBernab\u00e9u,\tinvolved\tpublicly\tacknowledging\tthe\tplayer\u2019s\tdesire\tto\tsign for\tReal\tMadrid.\tSafe\tin\tthe\tknowledge\tthat\tthe\trelease\tclause\twas\tpresent\tin\this latest\tcontract,\tthe\tclub\tunderstood\tthat\tthe\tbest\troute\twas\tfor\tboth\tReal\tMadrid and\tCristiano\tto\tkeep\tthe\tpressure\ton. Alex\tFerguson\traised\tthe\ttone\tof\tthe\tdebate\ttwo\tdays\tafter\tthe\tChampions League\tfinal\tin\tMoscow.\t\u2018Calder\u00f3n\u2019s\ttalking,\t[the\tcoach\tBernd]\tSchuster\u2019s talking,\tthey\tuse\tMarca\tas\ttheir\tvehicle\tto\tunsettle\tplayers,\u2019\the\tdeclared. \u2018Ronaldo\thas\tgot\tanother\tfour\tyears\tleft\ton\this\tcontract\tand\tCalder\u00f3n\tmakes\tthe great\tstatement,\t\u201cslavery\twas\tabolished\tmany,\tmany\tyears\tago\u201d.\tDid\tthey\ttell Franco\tthat?\u2019 In\tsummer\t2008,\tAS\tpublished\tnews\tthat\tReal\tMadrid\twould\tmeet\tRonaldo\u2019s release\tclause.\tBut\tFerguson\twas\tready\tfor\tbattle:\the\tcould\tnot\taccept\twhat\the considered\ta\tpublic\tattack.\tHe\ttold\tJorge\tMendes\tto\tforget\tabout\tthe\tcontract\tas the\tconfidentiality\tsurrounding\tthe\trelease\tclause\thad\tbeen\tbroken.\tHe\thad proof.\tIt\thad\tbeen\tleaked\tto\tMarca,\tAS,\tthe\tBayern\tMunich\tboard\tand\tMichel Platini.\tFerguson\ttold\tRonaldo\u2019s\tagent\tmore:\tthe\tplayer\u2019s\tcontract\twould\tbe renewed\tunder\timproved\tterms,\tmaking\this\tdeparture\tmore\texpensive. A\tfew\tdays\tlater,\tjust\tafter\tthe\tEuros\thad\tkicked\toff,\tManchester\tUnited\ttook\ta further\tstep:\tthey\treported\tReal\tMadrid\tto\tFIFA. Alex\tFerguson\torganised\ta\ttrip\tto\tPortugal\tto\tput\ta\tdefinitive\tend\tto\tthe\tSpanish","Alex\tFerguson\torganised\ta\ttrip\tto\tPortugal\tto\tput\ta\tdefinitive\tend\tto\tthe\tSpanish club\u2019s\tefforts\tand,\tmore\timportantly,\tto\ttry\tto\tconvince\tRonaldo\tthat\the\tcould achieve\teven\tmore\tat\tOld\tTrafford.\tCarlos\tQueiroz\toffered\tup\this\thouse\tin Lisbon\tfor\tthe\tmeeting.\tCristiano,\tFerguson,\tCarlos\tand\tJorge\tMendes\tsat\tdown for\tdiscussion\tin\tthe\tliving\troom. It\twas\tclear\tfrom\tthe\toutset\tthat\tRonaldo\u2019s\tpressure\tstrategy\tand\tFerguson\u2019s military\tstance\thad\tdamaged\ttheir\trelationship\tand\tthey\thad\tto\tmend\tfences.\tThe Scot\twas\tconvinced\tthat\the\tcould\tnot\tbudge\tan\tinch.\tReal\tMadrid\u2019s\tmedia campaign\thad\tmade\tup\this\tmind\tfor\thim:\the\tsimply\tcould\tnot\tlet\tthe\tplayer leave.\tIt\twas\tmuch\tmore\tthan\ta\tsale,\tit\twas\tabout\tmaintaining\this\tposition\tof authority\ton\tthe\tglobal\tstage.\tFergie\twas\tthe\tone\twho\tdecided\tif\tand\twhen\this stars\tjumped\tship. The\tother\telement\tof\tthe\tequation\twas\tJorge\tMendes\twho\twanted\tto\tbe\tthe mediator\tand\tkeep\teveryone\thappy.\tFerguson\tsuspected\tthat\tMendes\tfeared losing\tthe\tplayer\tif\the\twent\tto\tReal\tMadrid,\tand\the\tsaid\tas\tmuch\tin\this autobiography.\tIt\tis\twhat\tsometimes\thappens\tat\tthe\tmost\trenowned\tclubs\twhen new\tagents\tand\tnew\tstrategies\tare\tsuddenly\ton\toffer. Ferguson\thad\tdeveloped\ta\tMachiavellian\tstrategy\tin\tthe\tprevious\tweeks.\tHe prepared\tfor\ta\tpossible\toutcome\tin\tthe\tevent\tthat\the\twould\tbe\tunable\tto\tconvince the\tPortuguese\tto\tstay,\tby\tcontacting\tBarcelona\tto\tensure\tthat\twould\tbe\this\tnext destination.\tAnything\tbut\tReal\tMadrid.\tBut\tRonaldo\twas\tcrystal\tclear\tabout where\the\twanted\tto\tgo.\tIn\tthe\tmidst\tof\tthe\ttense\tcalm,\tthe\tManchester\tUnited manager\tlistened\tto\tthe\tplayer\u2019s\twish:\the\twas\tdetermined\tto\tleave,\tnothing would\tmake\thim\tchange\this\tmind.\tIt\twas\ttime\tand\tReal\tMadrid\tawaited. Sir\tAlex\teventually\treached\ta\tgentleman\u2019s\tagreement\twith\tthe\tplayer,\thaving already\tconfirmed\tit\twith\tMendes.\tThis\tis\thow\the\texplained\tit\tin\this\tbook: You\tcan\u2019t\tgo\tthis\tyear,\tnot\tafter\tthe\tway\tCalder\u00f3n\thas\tapproached\tthis\tissue.\tI know\tyou\twant\tto\tgo\tto\tReal\tMadrid.\tBut\tI\u2019d\trather\tshoot\tyou\tthan\tsell\tyou\tto that\tguy\tnow.\tIf\tI\tdo\tthat,\tall\tmy\thonour\thas\tgone,\teverything\u2019s\tgone\tfor\tme,\tand I\tdon\u2019t\tcare\tif\tyou\thave\tto\tsit\tin\tthe\tstands.\tI\tknow\tit\twon\u2019t\tcome\tto\tthat,\tbut\tI just\thave\tto\ttell\tyou\tI\twon\u2019t\tlet\tyou\tleave\tthis\tyear.18 In\treturn,\tif\tRonaldo\tbehaved\tprofessionally\tin\tthe\tfollowing\ttwelve\tmonths,\tif he\tgave\this\tall\tfor\tthe\tclub\tand\tReal\tMadrid\tcame\tback\twith\ta\tworld-record offer,\tSir\tAlex\tpromised\tto\tlet\thim\tgo.","offer,\tSir\tAlex\tpromised\tto\tlet\thim\tgo. Cristiano\taccepted. Real\tMadrid,\tManchester\tUnited\tand\tall\tother\ttop\tclubs\tknow\tthat\twhen\tverbal agreements\tare\treached\tit\tis\tnot\teven\tnecessary\tto\tsign\tanything.\tWhat\twas arranged\tat\tCarlos\tQueiroz\u2019s\thouse\twas\tlaw.\tBoth\tsides\twould\trespect\tit, although\tit\thad\tto\tbe\tdocumented,\tof\tcourse. Ferguson\texplained\tthe\tagreement\tto\tDavid\tGill,\twho\tpassed\tthe\tdetails\ton\tto\tthe club\towners,\tthe\tGlazer\tfamily.\t\u2018At\tthat\tpoint\twe\twere\tpetrified\tthat\tthe\tdetails of\tthe\tagreement\tmight\tcreep\tout,\u2019\twrote\ta\tspeculative\tFerguson.\t\u2018We\twarned Cristiano\tabout\tit.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\the\ttold\tReal\tMadrid.\u201915\tHe\twas\twrong. While\tRam\u00f3n\tCalder\u00f3n\twas\tin\tBogot\u00e1\ton\t7\tor\t8\tAugust\tahead\tof\ta\tfriendly against\tSanta\tFe,\tthe\tReal\tMadrid\tpresident\treceived\ta\tcall\tfrom\tJorge\tMendes. \u2018President,\tI\u2019m\tgoing\tto\tput\tthe\tboy\ton,\the\twants\tto\ttell\tyou\tsomething.\u2019 \u2018President,\tyou\thave\tto\tforgive\tme,\u2019\tRonaldo\ttold\tCalder\u00f3n.\t\u2018I\tknow\twe\u2019d\tsaid that\tI\u2019d\tcome\tto\tReal\tMadrid\tthis\tyear,\tbut\tI\tcan\u2019t.\tFerguson\thas\tasked\tme\tto stay,\tthe\tclub\thas\tasked\tme\tto\tstay.\tI\thave\tmany\tthings\tto\tthank\tManchester United,\tthe\tfans\tand\tFerguson\thimself\tfor.\tHe\u2019s\tlike\ta\tfather\tto\tme.\tSo\tI\tcan\u2019t join\tthis\tyear,\tbut\twe\u2019re\tgoing\tto\tarrange\teverything\tfor\tnext\tseason.\u2019 Cristiano\tspoke\thonestly\ton\tthe\tEnglish\tclub\u2019s\twebsite\tand\tin\tthe\tPortuguese daily\tP\u00fablico.\tOnly\the\twas\tresponsible\tfor\this\twords,\the\tsaid,\tReal\tMadrid\thad nothing\tto\tdo\twith\tit.\tHis\tintention\tfor\t\u2018some\ttime\u2019\twas\tfor\tManchester\tUnited\tto sell\thim\tto\tthe\tSpanish\tgiants.\t\u2018Saying\tthe\topposite\twould\tbe\tdeceiving\tthe people\tand\tmy\town\tconscience.\u201922 Now\tit\twas\tjust\ta\tmatter\tof\tpreparing\this\tarrival\tfor\tthe\tfollowing\tsummer. According\tto\tmy\tsources,\ta\tpre-contract\twas\tsubsequently\twritten\tin\t2008 linking\tReal\tMadrid\twith\tCristiano\tRonaldo. It\twas\tnot\tvery\tlong,\tbut\tcontained\tthe\tnecessary\tsignatures.\tIt\tpromised\tthat\tthe Spanish\tclub\twould\tsign\tthe\tPortuguese\tand,\tif\tit\twere\tnot\tto\thappen\tbecause","one\tof\tthe\ttwo\tparties\tdecided\tto\tbreak\tthe\tagreement,\tthey\twould\tbe\tobliged\tto pay\t\u20ac30\tmillion\tin\tcompensation. That\tcontract\twas\tthe\tresult\tof\tseveral\tmeetings\tin\tPorto\tinvolving\tJos\u00e9\t\u00c1ngel S\u00e1nchez\tand\tCarlos\tBucero,\tassistant\tto\tthe\tsporting\tdirector\tPedja\tMijatovic. Club\tlawyer\tJavier\tCalder\u00f3n\talso\tattended\tone\tof\tthem. Bucero\tworked\tthrough\tthe\tnight\tuntil\the\tcame\tup\twith\tan\tidea\tof\thow\tto arrange\ta\tpre-contract\twith\tCristiano\twithout\tputting\tboth\tparties\tin\tdanger.\tHe eventually\tmanaged\tit.\tMendes\tgave\this\tseal\tof\tapproval\tand\tthen\tit\thad\tto\tbe made\tlegal:\tfinally\ton\t12\tDecember\t2008,\tthe\tdocument\twas\tread\tout\tin\tthe presence\tof\ta\tnotary,\tsigned\tby\tRam\u00f3n\tCalder\u00f3n\tand\ton\tRonaldo\u2019s\tbehalf\tby Jorge\tMendes,\twho\thad\tthe\tplayer\u2019s\tauthority. The\tagreement\twas\tdeposited\twith\tnotary\tPablo\tDur\u00e1n\tde\tla\tColina\tin\tMadrid.\tIf anybody\thad\twanted\tto\tconsult\tit\tand\ttake\tit\taway\tbefore\t30\tJune\t2009,\tthey would\thave\tneeded\tsignatures\tby\tboth\tMendes\tand\tReal\tMadrid.\tAfter\tthat\tdate, if\teither\tparty\tcontravened\tit\tby\tmaking\tit\tpublic,\tthe\tnotary\twould\thave\tto\tgive a\tcopy\tto\tboth\tof\tthem. Logically,\tthere\twas\ta\tpact\tbetween\tReal\tMadrid\tand\tthe\tplayer,\tunder\tcontract at\tManchester\tUnited,\tnot\tto\tmake\tthe\tagreement\tpublic. I\thave\tseen\ta\tcopy\tof\ta\tdocument\twhich\tseemed\tto\tbe\tthe\tpre-contract,\tkept\tin\ta drawer\tin\ta\tmajestic\tbottle-green-leather-top\twalnut\tdesk.\tThe\tperson\twho showed\tme\tit\ttook\ta\tkey\tout\tof\this\ttrouser\tpocket\twhile\tspeaking\tto\tme.\tI\twas sitting\ton\ta\tsofa\tfacing\tthe\tonly\twindow\tin\tthe\toffice. He\tpassed\tme\tthe\tdocument.\tNeither\tof\tus\tspoke\tfor\ta\twhile\tso\tthat\tI\tcould examine\tthe\tcontents\tof\tthe\tdocument\twith\ta\tfine-tooth\tcomb.\tHe\tis\tnot\tthe\tonly one\twho\thas\ta\tcopy,\tbut\the\tdoes\tnot\twant\tto\tmake\tit\tpublic.\tNor\twill\tthe\tothers, so\the\tsays.\tOr\tmaybe\tthey\twill.\tHe\ttold\tme\tthat\tthere\tis\tsomeone\twho\tmay\tbe interested\tin\tthe\tdocument\tcoming\tto\tlight\tand\tpeople\tdiscussing\tit.\tHe\ttold\tme how\tto\tapproach\thim\tand\thow\tto\tconvince\thim. Questions\twere\tflooding\tinto\tmy\thead.\tWas\tit\tlegal?\tCould\ta\tplayer\tunder contract\tsign\tsuch\ta\tdocument?\tWas\tit\tnecessary?\tWho\twas\tthe\tfirst\tparty\tto leak\tthe\tagreement?\tBecause\tit\twas\tleaked.\tIt\twas\tleaked\tto\tme:\tI\tshall\texplain","more\tlater. Two\tadditional\tdocuments\twere\tallegedly\tdrafted\tat\tthe\tsame\ttime\tas\tthe\tmain one:\tone\tin\tNovember\t2008,\twhich\twas\ta\tprivate\tand\tconfidential\tagreement between\tthe\tplayer\tand\tManchester\tUnited,\tto\testablish\tthe\t\u00a380\tmillion\ttransfer fee.\tReal\tMadrid\twere\tnot\tinvolved\tin\tthat\tone. The\tsecond\twas\ta\tletter\tsigned\tby\tCristiano\tRonaldo\tdetailing\tthe\tcontract\tterms: the\tplayer\taccepted\tthe\tagreed\t\u00a380\tmillion\trelease\tclause\tto\tleave\tManchester United\tat\tthe\tend\tof\tthe\t2008\u201309\tseason,\tand\tif\the\tdecided\tto\tstay\tat\tthe\tEnglish club\the\twould\thave\tto\tpay\tReal\tMadrid\t\u20ac30\tmillion.\tThe\tSpanish\tclub\twould have\tto\tpay\tthe\tsame\tfigure\tto\tthe\tplayer\tif\tthey\treneged\ton\tthe\tagreement. Ramon\tCalder\u00f3n\thad\tbeen\ttempted\tto\tarrange\ta\tmeeting\twith\tRonaldo,\tbut\tthe matter\thad\tbeen\tresolved\tand\this\tintervention\twas\tnot\tneeded.\tThey\tspoke\ton\tthe phone\ton\t12\tDecember\tafter\tthe\tmain\tcontract\twas\tsigned\tby\tMendes\tand\tthe president.\t\u2018I\u2019m\tvery\texcited,\u2019\tthe\tplayer\ttold\tCalder\u00f3n.\t\u2018We\u2019ll\twelcome\tyou\twith open\tarms,\u2019\the\treplied.\tIt\twas\tthe\tlast\ttime\tthey\tspoke. Real\tMadrid\tonly\thad\tto\tensure\tthat\tthey\tcould\tstump\tup\tthe\tmoney.\tThey arranged\ta\t\u20ac70\tmillion\tloan\tfrom\tBanco\tde\tSantander\tand\ttook\tout\ta\t\u20ac1\tmillion currency\tforward\tcontract\tin\tcase\teither\tthe\tpound\tor\tthe\teuro\tfluctuated considerably\t(which\teventually\tsaw\tReal\tMadrid\tsave\t\u20ac4\tmillion\tas\tthe\tpound increased\tin\tvalue). All\tthat\tremained\twas\tto\trespect\tthe\tpact\tof\tsilence. When\teverything\twas\tconfirmed,\tReal\tMadrid\tcelebrated\tthe\tsigning\tin\tsecret and\tMijatovic\teven\tdiscreetly\tsent\tCristiano\ta\tkit. On\t12\tJanuary\t2009,\ta\tmonth\tafter\tthe\tsigning\tof\tthe\tagreement,\tI\tannounced\ton Sky\tSports\tand\twrote\tin\tan\tarticle\tfor\tAS\tthat\teverything\twas\tdone\tand\tdusted between\tRonaldo\tand\tReal\tMadrid. The\tperson\twho\treveals\tsuch\tan\texclusive\tfinds\thimself\tin\ta\tstrange\tplace.\tMy sources\twere\treliable,\tI\tknew\tthe\tins\tand\touts\tof\tthe\tstory\tand\tdecided\tthat\tit could\tbe\tannounced,\tbut\tdeclaring\tthat\ta\tstar\tis\tleaving\ta\ttop\tside\tis\tan\tinvitation for\tpublic\toutcry\tand\ta\tflurry\tof\tinsults.\tYou\tare\tsuddenly\tin\ta\tlonely\tplace: nobody\tis\tgoing\tto\tconfirm\tit,\tnobody\tis\tgoing\tto\tget\ttheir\thands\tdirty\tfor\tyou. You\thave\tto\tput\tyour\thead\tdown\tand\tlive\twith\tit\tuntil\tthe\tday\tthe\tdeal\tis","You\thave\tto\tput\tyour\thead\tdown\tand\tlive\twith\tit\tuntil\tthe\tday\tthe\tdeal\tis officially\tannounced. Meanwhile,\tManchester\tUnited\tdenied\tit\tvehemently. Confirmation\tof\tthe\tdeal\twas\tthe\tworst-case\tscenario\tfor\tFlorentino\tP\u00e9rez\twho believed,\tand\twanted\tpeople\tto\tbelieve,\tthat\this\treturn\twas\tnecessary.\tAnd\tso, according\tto\tnumerous\tmedia\treports,\tmovements\tbehind\tthe\tscenes\twere\tput\tin motion\tto\tpile\tthe\tpressure\ton\tCalder\u00f3n\tin\torder\tto\tforce\tearly\telections\tand\tbe able\tto\tbe\tthe\tman\twho\tunveiled\tCristiano\tto\tthe\tworld\tin\tthe\twhite\tkit\tof\tReal Madrid. Ram\u00f3n\tCalder\u00f3n\tknew\tthat\the\thad\ta\tbattle\ton\this\thands\tfrom\this\tvery\tfirst\tday\tin office:\tFlorentino\tP\u00e9rez\twas\tthere\tand\twas\tnot\tthere.\tHe\twould\tnot\tconfirm\tif\the planned\tto\tbe\tback\tin\tthe\tnear\tfuture,\tbut\teveryone\tbehind\tthe\tscenes\tbelieved his\treturn\twas\timminent.\tInterestingly,\ton\t30\tOctober\t2008,\tseveral\tqualified people\tresigned\tfrom\tvarious\tfootball-related\tcompanies,\tall\tof\twhom\tlater ended\tup\tat\tReal\tMadrid.\tFlorentino\thad\tdiscreetly\tbegun\this\tinexorable\tdrive\tto return\tto\tthe\tSantiago\tBernab\u00e9u. Calder\u00f3n\treached\tthe\tend\tof\this\tsecond\tyear\tin\toffice\texpending\tjust\tas\tmuch energy\tin\tdefending\thimself\tfrom\tcontinuous\tattacks\ton\this\treputation\tas\tin celebrating\tthe\tconsecutive\tleague\ttitles\tclinched\tunder\tFabio\tCapello\tand\tBernd Schuster.\tHe\tspoke\tabout\tcovert\tactivities\tbehind\this\tback\tcalculated\tto undermine\this\tauthority\tand\this\tpresidency\twas\ttarnished\twith\tsuspicion, insinuation\tand\taccusations\tof\tall\tkinds. The\tmedia\tpressure\tduring\tthat\tchaotic\tperiod\tat\tthe\tclub\tfinally\treached breaking\tpoint\ton\t16\tJanuary\t2009,\tthe\tday\tRam\u00f3n\tCalder\u00f3n\tannounced\this resignation\tas\tReal\tMadrid\tpresident.\tHe\tleft\twith\this\thead\theld\thigh.\tIn\tthe coming\tmonths,\tfive\tlawsuits\twere\tfiled\tagainst\thim\tconcerning\this\ttenure\tat\tthe club\t(he\twas\talleged\tto\thave\tbeen\timplicated\tin\ta\tfraudulent\tvote\tby\tpost, falsifying\taccounts,\tfraudulent\tcommission,\tmanipulating\tticket\tsales). He\twas\tnever\tconvicted\ton\tany\tcharge.\tHe\tdenied\tall\tthe\tcharges\tand\tnone\tof them\teven\tmade\tit\tto\tcourt. Just\tbefore\this\tresignation\tthere\toccurred\tone\tof\tthe\ttwo\tcrises\tthat\tcould\thave","seen\tRonaldo\tend\tup\tat\tFC\tBarcelona\tor\tManchester\tCity.\tRadio\tprogramme\tEl Larguero\tconfirmed\tthat\tCristiano\thad\tan\tagreement\twith\tManchester\tUnited allowing\thim\tto\tleave\tat\tthe\tend\tof\tthe\tseason\t\u2018for\ta\treasonable\tamount\u2019. The\tprogramme\u2019s\thost,\tJos\u00e9\tRam\u00f3n\tde\tla\tMorena,\trevealed\tthat\tthe\tPortuguese had\ta\tpre-contract\tincluding\ta\tconfidentiality\tclause\tthat\tcould\tinvalidate\tthe agreement\tif\tbroken.\tClearly,\tsomebody\thad\tignored\tit\tby\ttelling\tthe\tjournalist the\tdetails.\tJorge\tMendes,\tRam\u00f3n\tCalder\u00f3n\tand\tJos\u00e9\t\u00c1ngel\tS\u00e1nchez\thad\tto make\turgent\tphone\tcalls\tto\tcalm\tFerguson\u2019s\trage.\tMeanwhile\tthe\tScot\tonce again\tinsisted\tto\tthe\tEnglish\tpress\tthat\tRonaldo\twas\tgoing\tnowhere. The\tsecond\tcrisis\twould\tbe\tmuch\tmore\tserious.\tIt\ttook\tplace\twhile\tpowerful businessman\tVicente\tBoluda\twas\tpresident,\tin\tcharge\tsince\tthe\tdeparture\tof Calder\u00f3n\tto\tsteady\tthe\tship\tand\tensure\tthe\telections\ttook\tplace\tby\t14\tJune\tat\tthe latest. On\t18\tMarch,\tEduardo\tFern\u00e1ndez\tde\tBlas,\tpresident\tof\tthe\tlobbying\tgroup\t\u00c9tica Madridista,\tspoke\tat\tthe\tFerr\u00e1ndiz\u2013AS\tForum.\tHis\tanalysis\tof\tthe\tReal\tMadrid situation\tcentred\tupon\tRonaldo\tand\tthe\tlack\tof\tplayers\tfrom\tthe\tSpain\tsquad\tat the\tclub.\t\u2018There\tare\tmore\tSpaniards\tat\tLiverpool\tthan\tat\tReal\tMadrid,\u2019\the\tsaid. And\tadded,\t\u2018Cristiano\tis\tone\tof\tthe\tbest\tplayers\tin\tthe\tworld,\tbut\tManchester United\tare\tasking\ta\tlot\tfor\thim\tand\twith\tthat\tmoney\twe\tcan\tsign\ttwo\tplayers from\tthe\tSpain\tnational\tteam.\tWe\u2019ll\thave\tto\tsee\thow\tadvanced\tthe\tdeal\tis\tand what\tthe\tcoach\twants.\tWe\talso\tneed\tto\tevaluate\thow\tresponsible\tsuch\tan investment\tis,\tas\tit\tcould\tput\tthe\tclub\u2019s\tsolvency\tat\trisk.\tMaybe\tit\twould\tbe wiser\tto\tinvest\t\u20ac100\tmillion\tin\tseveral\tplayers\trather\tthan\tjust\tone.\tAnd Spaniards,\tif\tpossible.\u2019 Fern\u00e1ndez\tde\tBlas\twas\tsupposedly\tindependent,\tbut\this\tstatements\tamong groups\tof\tjournalists\tand\tclub\tmembers\tsuited,\tor\teven\tchimed\twith, Florentino\u2019s\telectoral\tcampaign.\tFern\u00e1ndez\tde\tBlas\tended\tup\tas\tvice-president on\tP\u00e9rez\u2019s\tboard\ta\tfew\tmonths\tlater. De\tBlas\tgiving\ta\tkick-start\tto\tthe\tcampaign\tmeant\tP\u00e9rez\t(whose\tactions\talso hinged\ton\this\twife\u2019s\tpoor\thealth)\tcould\tfind\tout\twho\this\tpossible\trivals\twould\tbe and\thow\tthey\tstood\ton\tdelicate\tissues\tsuch\tas\tthe\tcost\tof\tRonaldo. Vicente\tBoluda\twas\tstartled\tto\thear\tthe\taccusation:\the\tcould\tnot\tallow\tsuch\ta stain\ton\this\treputation\tor\tbe\taccused\tof\twasting\tthe\tclub\u2019s\tresources.\tIt\twas\ta very\tserious\tmatter\tto\thear\tDe\tBlas\tsay\tthat\the\twas\tputting\tthe\tclub\u2019s\tfinances\tin","very\tserious\tmatter\tto\thear\tDe\tBlas\tsay\tthat\the\twas\tputting\tthe\tclub\u2019s\tfinances\tin danger\twhen\tin\tfact\tthere\twas\t\u20ac140\tmillion\tin\tthe\tclub\tcoffers\tand\tthe\toperation had\tbeen\tarranged\twith\tminimal\trisk\tattached. Fern\u00e1ndez\tde\tBlas\thad\tpainted\ta\tvery\tdistorted\timage\tof\tthe\tclub\twith\tsuch strategically\ttimed\tpopulism,\tjust\tbefore\tthe\tchosen\tmembers\u2019\tassembly\tin which\tBoluda\thad\tto\tbe\tratified\tin\torder\tto\tbe\table\tto\tcall\telections\tfurther\tdown the\tline. \u2018So\tthis\tis\thow\tfar\twe\u2019ve\tcome,\u2019\tthought\tVicente\tBoluda\tand\the\tdecided\tto\ttake a\tchange\tof\tdirection\tthat\twould\tfree\thim\tfrom\taccusations. As\thas\tbeen\testablished,\tterminating\tthe\tagreement\twould\tcost\t\u20ac30\tmillion,\tso he\tcalled\tJorge\tMendes\tpersonally\tand\toffered\tto\tbreak\tthe\tcontract\tbetween Ronaldo\tand\tthe\tclub,\tand\tto\tpay\tthe\tpenalty. There\twas\tanother,\tcheaper\tpossibility.\tIf\tthe\ttermination\twas\tagreed\tby\tboth parties,\tno\tmoney\twould\tneed\tto\tchange\thands.\tReal\tMadrid\twould\tfree themselves\tfrom\t\u2018throwing\t\u20ac94\tmillion\tdown\tthe\tdrain\u2019\tand,\tas\tRonaldo\tstill\thad his\tagreement\twith\tFerguson,\the\twould\tthen\tbe\table\tto\tsign\tfor\tany\tother\tclub\tin the\tworld. The\tstep\ttaken\tby\tBoluda\twas\textremely\tbold\tand\tincurred\tunpredictable consequences.\tWould\tMendes\taccept?\tAnd\twould\tRonaldo,\tafter\ttaking\tso\tmany steps\ttowards\ttouching\tdown\tat\tthe\tBernab\u00e9u?\tWhat\twould\tthe\tcandidates\tto\tthe presidential\telections\tsay\tif\tthey\tfound\tout?\tCould\tthey\thalt\tBoluda\u2019s\ttenure? And\twhat\twould\tstand\thim\tin\tbetter\tstead?\tPaying\tthe\tcontroversial\t\u20ac94\tmillion, knowing\tthat\tfans\thave\tshort\tmemories,\tor\tcancelling\tthe\tagreement\tthat\twould allow\ta\twonderful\tplayer\tto\tsign\tfor\ta\trival? Jorge\tMendes\u2019s\treaction\twas\tsurprising.\tHe\tsaid\tit\twas\tfine\tto\tbreak\tthe agreement\twith\tno\tcost\tto\tReal\tMadrid.\tHe\twould\tsend\this\tlawyer\tOsario\tde Castro\tto\tMadrid\tthe\tfollowing\tmorning.\tWhen\tBoluda\ttold\tJos\u00e9\t\u00c1ngel\tS\u00e1nchez what\thad\thappened\tand\thow\tMendes\treacted,\tthe\tchief\texecutive\tcould\tnot believe\tit. And\tso\tbegan\tone\tof\tthose\tcrazy\tdays. What\twas\tMendes\u2019s\treaction\tdown\tto?\tRonaldo\u2019s\tagent\thad\ttwo\tother\toffers\tfor the\tplayer,\tboth\tfor\ta\tlarger\tamount\tthan\tReal\tMadrid\u2019s\tand\tsuperior\tto\twhat","Ronaldo\tand\tManchester\tUnited\thad\tagreed.\tOne\tfrom\tManchester\tCity\tthat some\tsources\tsuggested\tcould\thave\treached\t\u20ac150\tmillion\tand\tanother\tone\tfrom FC\tBarcelona\tfor\t\u20ac105\tmillion. A\ttwenty-one-year-old\tLeo\tMessi\twho\twas\tenjoying\this\tsecond\tseason\tunder Pep\tGuardiola\tmight\thave\tshared\tthe\tdressing\troom\twith\tCristiano\tRonaldo. Jos\u00e9\t\u00c1ngel\tS\u00e1nchez\tand\tother\timportant\tReal\tMadrid\tdirectors\tfeared\tthat missing\tout\ton\tthe\tPortuguese\tcould\tresult\tin\ta\tlong\tperiod\tof\tstruggling.\t\u2018If Bar\u00e7a\tsign\thim,\twe\twon\u2019t\twin\ta\ttrophy\tfor\tten\tyears,\u2019\tsaid\ta\tsenior\tboard member. Ronaldo\thad\tto\tjoin\tReal\tMadrid. Jos\u00e9\t\u00c1ngel\tS\u00e1nchez\tasked\tpeople\tclose\tto\tBoluda\tto\thelp\tmake\thim\tchange\this mind.\t\u2018It\twould\tbe\ta\tcrazy\tstep\tbackwards,\u2019\tthe\tpresident\twas\ttold. But\tBoluda\tinsisted\tthat\the\twould\tnot\tbe\tthe\t\u2018dickhead\u2019\twho\twould\tput\tthe economy\tof\tthe\tclub\tin\tdanger\twith\tsuch\ta\tbrutal\texpenditure. Tensions\treached\tboiling\tpoint. In\tthe\tend\tthe\tcrisis\twas\tresolved\tin\ta\tmost\tunusual\tfashion. S\u00e1nchez\tconvinced\tBoluda\tto\tcall\tFlorentino\tP\u00e9rez.\tThe\tsuggestion\tcould\tsound strange\tbecause\tthe\tformer\tpresident\thad\tnot\tyet\tconfirmed\this\tcandidacy,\tnor was\the\tpart\tof\tthe\tclub,\tnor\tdid\the\thave\tany\ttype\tof\tinfluence,\tin\ttheory\tat\tleast. But\tnobody\tdoubted\tthat\the\thad\tsome\trole\tin\tFern\u00e1ndez\tde\tBlas\u2019s\tstatement. The\tbusinessman\tfrom\tValencia\tdecided\tto\tfollow\this\tadvice. It\twas\televen\tat\tnight,\tafter\ta\tpressure-filled\tday\tof\tphone\tcalls. Boluda,\twho\twas\twith\this\ttrusted\tassociates\tincluding\tJos\u00e9\t\u00c1ngel\tS\u00e1nchez,\tput the\tphone\ton\tspeaker. It\twas\ta\tswift\tconversation.\tBoluda\texplained\tthat\the\twas\tfed\tup\twith\tFern\u00e1ndez de\tBlas\u2019s\tmessages\tabout\tCristiano,\tthe\tinconvenience\tof\tthe\tsigning,\thow expensive\the\twas\tand\tthe\tfalse\tstatement\tthat\tit\twould\tput\tthe\tclub\u2019s\tfinances\tin danger.","Florentino\tanswered\tquickly:\t\u2018De\tBlas\twon\u2019t\tsay\tanother\tword\ton\tthis\tmatter.\u2019 Despite\tbeing\ta\tsigning\t\u2018by\tthe\tenemy\u2019,\tP\u00e9rez\tcould\tnot\tconceive\treturning\tto the\tclub\tto\ttake\ton\ta\tBarcelona\twith\tLeo\tand\tCristiano\tin\tits\tranks.\tFlorentino therefore\tasked\tfor\tthe\tcontract\twith\tRonaldo\tnot\tto\tbe\tbroken\tand\tfor\tthe signing\tto\tgo\tahead. Mendes\treceived\ta\tcall\tthat\tvery\tsame\tnight\tand\this\tlawyer\tOsorio\tdid\tnot\tfly\tto Madrid\tafter\tall. Crisis\taverted. A\tfew\tdays\tlater,\tFlorentino\tP\u00e9rez\tfinally\tannounced\tthat,\tas\texpected,\the\twas running.\tWith\tthis\tnews,\tthe\trest\tof\tthe\tcandidates\tknew\tthey\twould\tstruggle\tto gain\tthe\trequired\tnumber\tof\tsignatures\tjust\tto\tenable\tthem\tto\tstand. The\tnewspapers\twere\tfilled\twith\tquestions\tabout\tthe\tagreement\twith\tthe Portuguese\tstar\tand\tFlorentino\u2019s\tposition\tin\tthat\tregard.\tWould\the\tbreak\tthe contract\tsigned\tby\tCalder\u00f3n?\tWould\the\taccept\tthe\tarrival\tof\ta\tgal\u00e1ctico\tthat\the had\tnot\tbrought\tin\thimself?\tHow\twas\the\tgoing\tto\telaborate\ton\this\tmessage\tto make\tit\tappear\tthat\this\tintervention\tin\tthe\tsigning\twas,\tor\tseemed\tto\tbe, decisive? The\tseason\t2008\u201309\twas\ta\ttough\tone\tfor\tRonaldo.\tHe\thad\tjust\twon\tthe\tdouble and\tspent\tthe\tsummer\ttrying\tto\tforce\this\texit.\tHe\thad\tone\tmore\tyear\tat\tUnited, but,\twith\this\tmind\telsewhere\tand\tdisruptive\tinjuries,\tit\twould\tend\tup\tbeing\tthe worst\tof\this\tfinal\tthree. He\thad\ta\tniggling\tinjury\tto\this\tright\tfoot\tthat\thad\tbeen\tcausing\tconstant inflammation\tsince\tMarch\t2008\tand\tthe\tproblem\tworsened\tduring\tthe Champions\tLeague\tfinal.\tHe\twas\tat\t70\tper\tcent\tduring\tthe\tEuros\tand\ton\tanti- inflammatories,\tbut\ta\tstamp\tby\tGerman\tArne\tFriedrich\tleft\thim\twrithing\tin\tpain and\the\tdecided\tto\tgo\tunder\tthe\tknife.\tDutch\tdoctor\tCornelis\tNicolaas\tvan\tDijk performed\tsurgery\ton\ttwo\tpieces\tof\tcartilage\tthat\thad\tcome\taway\tfrom\this\tankle, keeping\thim\tout\tof\taction\tfor\tsix\tweeks. \u2018He\twas\tvery\tprofessional\tthat\twhole\tseason,\u2019\trecalled\tGary\tNeville.\t\u2018But\the was\tcounting\tdown\tthe\tmonths\tuntil\the\tcould\tleave.\u2019\tThere\tare\tthose\twho believe\tthat\tRonaldo\tgradually\tdistanced\thimself\tfrom\tthe\trest\tof\tthe\tgroup\tas the\tcampaign\tprogressed.\tHe\tfound\tit\tharder\tand\tharder\tto\tjoin\tin\twith\tclub"]
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