Four shirts in different languages. No wonder Ronaldo is...The Ultimate Hero
They drove to the outskirts of the city, to stand on the sun-scorched scrubland where the Spanish building boom has stalled, in mid-morning temperatures of 90 degrees, simply in hope.
There might be a glance, at best there could be an autograph, but the Real Madrid believers appeared content to wait while the tarmac glistened. This was Real's training ground on Thursday morning and what it showed was that, as well as Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid have once again got another beguiling asset on their side: anticipation.
It is a powerful force at any club and it should make even a seen-itall stadium like the Bernabeu quiver. There on 
Saturday night, La Liga returns and, like a Hollywood sequel, the Galacticos are back.
Time will tell if they are to be better this time but, in terms of personalities, fees and audacity, they are this summer's blockbuster.
Ronaldo, Kaka, Benzema and Alonso will make their debuts in front of 80,000 in the towering stands and millions more watching around the world. When Ronaldo signed in June, 80,000 turned up to see him get changed.
Television crews from 32 countries were there, his shirt name was printed in Arabic, Chinese and Japanese as well as English. This is football, showbiz and branding entwined on a global scale. Again.
Just in case there is not enough stardust for tonight's occasion, a certain Senor Usain Bolt is due to be guest of honour. When Bolt shakes hands with Ronaldo, the 
fastest runner on the planet will greet its most expensive footballer.
It is impossible to separate what Real Madrid have done this summer from the cost, but a pleasing side effect for Spain is that Real's £220m-worth of summer recruits has amplified the country's claim to be the centre of football's universe.
Even before a 62-year-old industrialist called Florentino Perez walked back into Real as club president in June, Spain had a sound claim. Winning Euro 2008 entitled them to think so then, in May, Barcelona completed their pass-andweave across the continent to become European club champions.
What Perez has done since is crank up the volume. What he did within a week of returning to the role from where he orchestrated the buying of Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, the first Ronaldo and David Beckham at the beginning of the decade was re-acquaint Real and the world with the club's capacity to take the breath away.
For Kaka - world player of the year in 2007 - Real broke the global transfer record in paying Milan £56m. For Ronaldo - world player of the year 2008 - Real broke it again, paying Manchester United £80m. The two previous records had been for Figo and Zidane. It is an astonishing Perez quartet. And Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery remains on the horizon.
Yet not all are impressed. Barcelona are as angry as they are perplexed. In Rome in May they not only clinched an historic treble of La Liga title, Copa del Rey and Champions League, in the same month Pep Guardiola's team went to the Bernabeu and took Madrid apart, winning 6-2. Gerard Pique scored the sixth that glorious Barca night. He had hoped to wallow all summer in the achievement but last week he said: 'You put the telly on and Madrid are the first thing on.'
Pique's is not the only dissenting voice. Inside the sterilised cleanliness of the Madrid training ground, the press room overlooks the strikingly green pitch on which the first team train. When training starts, an electronic screen oozes down the floor-to-ceiling window. It's a black-out. When training ends, the screen rises slowly.
When it did so on Thursday, the pitch was all there was left. But beyond it was a vista stretching back into Madrid and a skyline dominated by four skyscraper towers. Their nicknames are instructive: Figo, Zidane, Beckham and Ronaldo.
This is the site of the old Real Madrid training ground. Faced with more than £200m debt, in 2001 Perez sanctioned the sale of the ground. Real got £382m for it. Eight years on, it remains a breath-taking sum.
The profit helped buy Zidane and, in 2002, the Champions League. A league title followed in 2003, but then three seasons passed without a trophy and Perez's galactico policy lost lustre. Ultimately the first galactico experiment failed.
Beckham's presence sold a million shirts, so they claimed, but as Perez admitted before walking out: 'We sinned from an excess of ambition.'
But now he is back, with galacticos II. The excitement Perez cherishes has returned with a rush but, as before, does excitement equal cash? Something else asked domestically is: how in the midst of Spain's worst recession for generations, with unemployment touching 18 per cent, did Perez persuade banks Caja Madrid and Banco Santander to release a loan for £120m? And what is that borrowing set against?
'The numbers don't seem to fit,' Eugenio Martinez Bravo told Sportsmail this week. Martinez Bravo leads a 2,000-strong supporters' group called Plataforma Blanca; he stood against Perez for president.
'The funds are basically coming from debt and we don't have much more to give to the banks as guarantees. Like every fan, I am enthusiastic about the new signings, their quality. The club needed change, no question, but if we don't win any titles, then it is going to be dangerous. The only big asset left is the Bernabeu.'
Perez can say that £87m has been recovered in sales this summer but the overall concern will chime with Liverpool and Manchester United supporters. And Martinez Blanco has another: 'On the pitch, will it work? Is this a team?'
That is where Manuel Pellegrini comes in. The 55-year-old Chilean has had five successful years at Villarreal.
Pellegrini has demonstrated his talent but he is sure to be aware that he is Real's 11th manager in 10 years.
Accommodating superstars on and off the pitch is only one of his tasks. So far, off it, there have been no problems.
Most Real players live in the La Moraleja district near the training ground but Cristiano - as he's known here - has chosen Finca on the other side of the city. Nothing is being read into that and he and Kaka have given a chummy joint interview in Portuguese to Real Madrid TV.
On the pitch, Pellegrini has used Ronaldo on the left and Kaka on the right, behind a front pairing of Benzema and Raul. Further back, Lassana Diarra and Alonso will sit in front of the back four. It is a sort-of 4-2-2-2 formation and a worry is that, like the finances, it is top heavy.
In one way, so is La Liga. You can get odds of 33-1 against Atletico Madrid winning the title, 40-1 Seville and 80-1 Valencia. The latter are e500m in debt and have a half-built new stadium. So there is also caution: England possessing three of last season's four Champions League semi-finalists was mentioned this week in newspaper Marca.
Yet Valencia retained players of the calibre of David Silva and David Villa, two of the reasons for La Liga's self-confidence. Kaka and Ronaldo are two more and mostly there is the tingle of anticipation. Against Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday night, those who waited on the edge of town, all around Spain and across the world will be given a glimpse into Real Madrid's new era. Galacticos II: where will it end?
Life with Cristiano Ronaldo
Little more than two minutes were needed for 80,000 Germans to glimpse the sort of Real Madrid much of Europe dreads for the season ahead and
Three new recruits, Xabi Alonso, Kaka and Granero, were involved in the goal, which was pleasing for the coaches charged with the tricky task of creating a team where six, perhaps seven, first XI places will be occupied by players recruited since mid-June. Kaka has so far been the outstanding newcomer. Standing somewhat on the margins of this rout lingered the world's most expensive footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo.
"Ronaldo is the dark corner so far in the planning of coach Manuel Pellegrini," concluded Marca, the popular madridista newspaper. "Rich guy, poor game," decided Sport, a paper with a firm anti-Madrid agenda.
Afterwards Ronaldo acknowledged that fluent, peak form still felt some days away. "I'm sure I will be in top condition when the competitive matches start," he said. That date is today, the beginning of a Spanish domestic season more hyped than any since Real Madrid first began their studied policy of turning financial ostentation into an Olympic sport. Talking of which, Usain Bolt has been invited to attend the opening league fixture at the Bernabeu against Deportivo La Coruna, one world record-holder joining in the global scrutiny of another, Ronaldo.
These are unfamiliar pressures for the Portuguese. Even Ronaldo's more sympathetic colleagues talk of the weight his £80m transfer fee carries. "His main problem will be the amount of money that has been paid for him," said Luis Figo, his compatriot and once the bearer of a world-record fee at the same club.
What could Figo say to reassure his countryman? The circumstances are not quite like those that Figo, and, in subsequent summers during the early years of this decade, Zinedine Zidane, Brazil's Ronaldo and David Beckham found when they arrived, one after the other during the first stint in charge of the Real Madrid president, Florentino Perez. Madrid were the European champions when they paid Barcelona almost £40m in the summer of 2000 to hire Figo; they were Spanish champions 12 months later when they beat that record to recruit Zidane; European champions again when they bought the other Ronaldo; Liga title-holders when Beckham joined.
But the club that re-elected Perez in June and promptly spent some £170m on a new front three of Ronaldo, Benzema and Kaka are champions of nothing except inflation. They have not penetrated the last-16 of the Champions League for five years, and they finished a dull second to Barcelona in the league last May. Ronaldo must turn from providing the finesse in a very strong Manchester United to rescuing what has been a very ordinary Real Madrid. While he has the assurance of sharing that responsibility with the other newcomers, notably Kaka and Benzema - Xabi Alonso should be equally important but he does not have top billing here - their presence reminds him daily that this is a Madrid team which is being not so much rebuilt as blitzed into shape, suddenly.
Arrigo Sacchi, the club's director of football in the period Figo, Zidane, Brazil's Ronaldo and Beckham shared places in the XI, is alarmed by a sense of deja vu. "Kaka and Ronaldo are strong men and good footballers, so they should be able to play alongside one another. But Madrid should be careful not to do what they did once, and bring in players without thinking whether they complement each other technically."
Initially, Ronaldo is bound to miss the relationships he had at United. Benzema, 21, signed from Lyon, lacks the maturity, industry and range of influence Wayne Rooney provided in United's attack. And some of the freedom given to Ronaldo as a United footballer are inevitably allocated at Madrid to Kaka, a No. 10 with a manicured image of saintliness but also one capable of expressing his concerns quite powerfully at Milan when he thought his territory was being cramped by Ronaldinho.
Ronaldo is still seeking his bearings. A feature of the pre-season has been his starting from deeper positions; the murmurs have it that he feels perplexed by some of the instructions coming from his new head coach. What he does not want to be taken for, though, is a prima donna. The Sunday Times, London
Primera Liga fixtures: On Saturday: Real Madrid vs Deportivo Coruna, Real Zaragoza vs Tenerife. On Sunday: Athletic Bilbao vs Espanyol, Malaga vs Atletico Madrid, Osasuna vs Villarreal, Racing Santander vs Getafe, Real Mallorca vs Xerez, Valencia vs Sevilla, Almeria vs Real Valladolid. On Monday: Barcelona vs Sporting Gijon.
All the summer transfer moves from every Barclays Premier League clubs
Barclays Premier League clubs have been busy in the transfer market over the summer.
Cristiano Ronaldo's world-record £80m switch from Manchester United to Real Madrid captured the headlines with the Red Devils quickly spending some of the income on Wigan Athletic winger Antonio Valencia and also bringing in Michael Owen as a free agent from Newcastle United and Gabriel Obertan for an undisclosed fee from Bordeaux.
Neighbours Manchester City have been eager to bring in new recruits, spending big on Gareth Barry from Aston Villa and Roque Santa Cruz from Blackburn Rovers. They have also snapped up Carlos Tevez who left local rivals Manchester United.
New Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has brought in Yuri Zhirkov from CSKA Moscow while Liverpool have splashed out on Glen Johnson from Portsmouth.
Newly-promoted sides Birmingham City, Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers have all been swift to strengthen in a bid to ensure survival in the top flight.
Arsenal
IN: Thomas Vermaelen (Ajax, undisclosed)
OUT: Amaury Bischoff (released), Emmanuel Adebayor (Manchester City, undisclosed), Kolo Toure (Manchester City, undisclosed), Jay Simpson (Queens Park Rangers, loan)
Aston Villa
IN: Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough, undisclosed), Fabian Delph (Leeds United, undisclosed), Habib Beye (Newcastle United, undisclosed), Stephen Warnock (Blackburn Rovers, undisclosed)
OUT: Gareth Barry (Manchester City, £12m), Stuart Taylor (Manchester City, undisclosed), Zat Knight (Bolton Wanderers, undisclosed)
birmingham city
IN: Christian Benitez (Santos Laguna, undisclosed), Scott Dann (Coventry City, undisclosed), Joe Hart (Manchester City, loan), Giovanny Espinoza (Barcelona Sporting Club, undisclosed), Roger Johnson (Cardiff City, £5m), Lee Bowyer (West Ham United, free), Barry Ferguson (Glasgow Rangers, £1.25m), James O'Shea (Galway United, undisclosed), Gregory Vignal (Lens, undisclosed)
OUT: Mehdi Nafti (Aris, free), Stephen Kelly (Fulham, undisclosed), Robin Shroot (Burton Albion, loan), Radhi Jaidi (released)
Blackburn Rovers
IN: Elrio van Heerden (Brugge, undisclosed), Gael Givet (Marseille, undisclosed), Lars Jacobsen (Everton, free), Steven N'Zonzi (Amiens SC, undisclosed), Franco Di Santo (Chelsea, loan), Nikola Kalinic (Hajduk Split, £6m), Michel Salgado (Real Madrid, free), Pascal Chimbonda (Tottenham Hotspur, undisclosed)
OUT: Roque Santa Cruz (Manchester City, undisclosed), Matt Derbyshire (Olympiakos, undisclosed) Aaron Mokoena (Portsmouth, free), Josh O'Keefe (Walsall, undisclosed), Stephen Warnock (Aston Villa, undisclosed)
bolton wanderers
IN: Sean Davis (Portsmouth, free transfer), Paul Robinson (West Bromwich Albion, loan), Zat Knight (Aston Villa, undisclosed), Sam Ricketts (Hull City, undisclosed)
OUT: Blerim Dzemaili (Torino, undisclosed)
burnley
IN: Steven Fletcher (Hibernian, £3m), David Edgar (Newcastle United, free), Tyrone Mears (Derby County, £500,000), Richard Eckersley (Manchester United, to be decided), Brian Easton (Hamilton Academical, £350,000), Fernando Guerrero (Independiente del Valle, loan), Andre Bikey (Reading, undisclosed)
OUT: Chris Mahon (Tranmere Rovers, free)
Chelsea
IN: Daniel Sturridge (Manchester City, undisclosed), Ross Turnbull (Middlesbrough, free), Yuri Zhirkov (CSKA Moscow, undisclosed), Nemanja Matic (MFK Kosice, undisclosed)
OUT: Ben Sahar (Espanyol, undisclosed), Lee Sawyer (Southend United, loan), Slobodan Rajkovic (FC Twente, loan), Sergio Tejera (Real Mallorca, undisclosed), Franco Di Santo (Blackburn Rovers, loan), Scott Sinclair (Wigan Athletic, loan), Claudio Pizarro (Werder Bremen, undisclosed), Jacob Mellis (Southampton, loan)
Everton
IN: Shkodran Mustafi (Hamburg, undisclosed), Anton Peterlin (Ventura County Fusion, undisclosed), Jo (Manchester City, loan), Diniyar Bilyaletdinov (Lokomotiv Moscow, undislosed)
OUT: Lars Jacobsen (Blackburn Rovers, free), Nuno Valente (released), Andy van der Meyde (released), Joleon Lescott (Manchester City, undisclosed)
Fulham
IN: Stephen Kelly (Birmingham City, undisclosed), Bjorn Helge Riise (Lillestrom, undisclosed), Damien Duff (Newcastle United, undisclosed), Jonathan Greening (West Bromwich Albion, loan), Kagisho Dikgacoi (Golden Arrows, loan)
OUT: Moritz Voltz (released), Collins John (released)
Hull City
IN: Steven Mouyokolo (Boulogne, undisclosed), Seyi Olofinjana (Stoke City, £3m), Jozy Altidore (Villarreal, loan), Stephen Hunt (Reading, undisclosed), Kamel Ghilas (Celta Vigo, undisclosed)
OUT: Dean Windass (released), Ryan France (released), Michael Bridges (released), John Welsh (released), Sam Ricketts (Bolton Wanderers, undisclosed)
Liverpool
IN: Glen Johnson (Portsmouth, undisclosed), Chris Mavinga (Paris St Germain, undisclosed), Alvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid, undisclosed), Alberto Aquilani (Roma, undisclosed), Sotirios Kyrgiakos (AEK Athens, undisclosed)
OUT: Paul Anderson (Nottingham Forest, £250,000), Alvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid, undisclosed), Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid, undisclosed)
manchester city
IN: Gareth Barry (Aston Villa, £12m), Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn Rovers, undisclosed), Stuart Taylor (Aston Villa, undisclosed), Carlos Tevez (free agent), Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal, undisclosed), Kolo Toure (Arsenal, undisclosed), Sylvinho (free agent), Joleon Lescott (Everton, undisclosed)
OUT: Joe Hart (Birmingham City, loan), Gelson Fernandes (St Etienne, undisclosed), Jo (Everton, loan), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea, undisclosed), Danny Mills (released), Dietmar Hamann (released), Michael Ball (released), Darius Vassell (released), Felipe Caicedo (Sporting Lisbon, loan), Ched Evans (Sheffield United, undisclosed), Shaleum Logan (Tranmere Rovers, loan), Elano (Galatasaray, undisclosed), Valeri Bojinov (Parma, loan)
Manchester United
IN: Antonio Valencia (Wigan Athletic, undisclosed), Michael Owen (Newcastle United, free), Gabriel Obertan (Bordeaux, undisclosed), Mame Biram Diouf (Molde FK, undisclosed)
OUT: Carlos Tevez (released), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid, £80m), Rodrigo Possebon (Braga, loan), Lee Martin (Ipswich Town, undisclosed), Fraizer Campbell (Sunderland, £3.5m rising up to £6m), Richard Eckersley (Burnley, to be decided), Manucho (Real Valladolid, undisclosed)
Portsmouth
IN: Aaron Mokoena (Blackburn Rovers, free), Steve Finnan (Espanyol, free), Frederic Piquionne (Lyon, loan), Anthony Vanden Borre (Genoa, loan), Antti Niemi (free agent), Tommy Smith (Watford, undisclosed)
OUT: Djimi Traore (Monaco, undisclosed), Glen Johnson (Liverpool, undisclosed), Andre Blackman (Bristol City, free), Sean Davis (Bolton, free), Noe Pamarot (released), Lauren (released), Glen Little (released), Jerome Thomas (released), Andrea Mbuyi-Mutombo (Standard Liege, free), Peter Crouch (Tottenham Hotspur, undisclosed), Arnold Mvuemba (released).
stoke city
IN: Dean Whitehead (Sunderland, undisclosed), Robert Huth (Middlesbrough, £5m)
OUT: Seyi Olofinjana (Hull City, £3m)
sunderland
IN: Fraizer Campbell (Manchester United, £3.5m rising up to £6m), Paulo Da Silva (Toluca, undisclosed), Lorik Cana (Marseille, undisclosed), Darren Bent (Tottenham Hotspur, rising up to £16.5m), Lee Cattermole (Wigan, £6m)
OUT: Greg Halford (Wolverhampton Wanderers, undisclosed), Michael Chopra (Cardiff City, undisclosed), Peter Hartley (Hartlepool United, free), Darren Ward (retired), Dwight Yorke (released), David Connolly (released), Nick Colgan (released), Arnau Riera (released), Dean Whitehead (Stoke City, undisclosed), Jack Colback (Ipswich Town, loan), Anthony Stokes (Hibernian, undisclosed)
tottenham hotspur
IN: Kyle Naughton (Sheffield United, undisclosed), Kyle Walker (Sheffield United, undisclosed), Peter Crouch (Portsmouth, undisclosed), Sebastien Bassong (Newcastle United, undisclosed)
OUT: Ricardo Rocha (released), Danny Hutchins (Yeovil Town, undisclosed), Didier Zokora (Sevilla, undisclosed), Darren Bent (Sunderland, rising up to £16.5m), Kyle Walker (Sheffield United, loan back), Pascal Chimbonda (Blackburn Rovers, undisclosed)
West Ham United
IN: Luis Jimenez (Inter Milan, loan) Jack Lampe (Harlow Town, free), Fabio Daprela (Grasshoppers Zurich, undisclosed), Alessandro Diamanti (Livorno, undisclosed)
OUT: Diego Tristan (released), Lee Bowyer (Birmingham City, free), Kyel Reid, Walter Lopez, Tony Stokes, Jimmy Walker (all released), Lucas Neill (free agent), Freddie Sears (Crystal Palace, loan)
Wigan Athletic
IN: Jordi Gomez (Espanyol, undisclosed), Hendry Thomas (Deportivo Olimpia, undisclosed), Jason Scotland (Swansea City, undisclosed), Scott sinclair (Chelsea, loan)
OUT: Antonio Valencia (Manchester United, undisclosed), Lee Cattermole (Sunderland, £6m)
wolverhampton wanderers
IN: Nenad Milijas (Red Star Belgrade, undisclosed), Marcus Hahnemann (Reading, free), Kevin Doyle (Reading, undisclosed), Andrew Surman (Southampton, undisclosed), Ronald Zubar (Marseille, undisclosed), Greg Halford (Sunderland, undisclosed), Michael Mancienne (Chelsea, loan)
OUT:
Ronaldo runs into pressure
Being the most expensive signing ever in the football world means the expectation around Cristiano Ronaldo is bigger than ever. As La Liga fires up, it is time for the Portuguese to prove his worth in one of the most demanding competitions.Every summer, at least one star heads to the Spanish Liga, a signing that makes the front pages of all four sports papers in Spain either because of the player's talent but mostly because of the amount of money invested in him. That has been the case with Zinedine Zidane, Sergio Agüero and Thierry Henry for instance; come of them find their feet in La Liga easily, but some need time to earn the much-longed for praise from the journalism experts.
This year, it is down to Cristiano Ronaldo. Competing with other summer stars Kakà, Benzema or Ibrahimovic, the £80m Real Madrid dished out to Manchester United has increased the pressure on the brand-new arrival. After two seasons of rumours about his move to Real, the expectation peaked on July 6 when the club staged a massive presentation gala at the Santiago Bernabéu. 80,000 fans packed the stands and, unavoidably, ended up invading the pitch before a bewildered Ronaldo.
The power of popularity hit the Portuguese, despite him being more than used to stardom, and the club quickly assigned him two personal bodyguards to fight off eager fans wherever he went.
The Ballon d'Or, Golden Boot and FIFA World Player of the Year prizes are a reflection of the quality of the forward, enough to vouch for a successful future in Spain, but Cristiano is yet to fully impress with his new team.
After nine friendly matches during the summer, Ronaldo is the player to have featured most for Manuel Pellegrini's new squad but 603 minutes and three goals, two from the penalty spot, did not seem enough for the demanding fans. Whereas Kakà and Benzema received approval from the specialised press, the Portuguese international has convinced neither fans nor journalists.
'Cristiano Ronaldo is still far from being the player that was the most expensive transfer ever', read Sport, or 'Cristiano doesn't feel comfortable' in Marca reflected the general feeling in Spain before the start of the season. Without being explicitly critical, the fans are still waiting to see the best of the former Manchester United player.
"I'm improving and I think I'm ready to start the season off. I feel comfortable and we are working bit by bit to improve our performance. I have nothing to prove to anyone, which means I feel quite relaxed," said the attacking-midfielder after the team's official presentation match against Rosenborg on August 25 at the Bernabéu, which ended 4-0 to the hosts.
Coach Manuel Pellegrini asked for a little patience, saying that "all the players are trying to reach their fitness peak. Cristiano is experiencing a change of style and adapting to a new country and that usually takes a bit more time than for those who already know the Spanish league".
In any case, the trial time is up. Real Madrid need to start proving that the millions invested during the summer will bring an end to Barcelona's reign and if Cristiano's pre-season performance has brought on a touch of pressure, it will not compare to what it will be like during the official campaign.
But then, in all fairness, three weeks of training sessions and low-key matches does not seem enough to judge him.
It took Thierry Henry quite a long time to adapt to a new style of playing at Barcelona before he convinced the fans of his quality. Months of criticism and unfortunate injuries cast a long shadow of doubt over the Frenchman before he proved the press wrong. Or Zidane at Real Madrid, under the similar circumstances of being the most expensive signing, admitted to feeling under pressure in the Spanish capital.
Whether Cristiano may be under the influence of the 'Zidane Syndrome', as Marca puts it, comparisons with his team-mates, with how Manchester United will do without him and with rival Leo Messi at Barcelona, could become heavy burdens for the 24-year-old. If his football falters, it will be down to his mental strength to rally through a possible storm of criticism.
Champions League: Cristiano Ronaldo desperate to win title with Real Madrid
United were outclassed by Barcelona back in May, losing 2-0 inside Rome's Olympic Stadium. It was billed as Ronaldo v Lionel Messi in the run-up to the match, but the Portuguese was outshone by his Argentinian rival and the 24-year-old still thinks back to what might have been.
A world-record £80 million summer move to Real followed for Ronaldo, who will team up alongside the likes of Kaka, Xabi Alonso, Raul, Karim Benzema and Ruud van Nistelrooy at the Bernabeu.
President Florentino Perez's £200m spending spree has made Real one of the clear favourites to wrestle the Champions League trophy away from bitter rivals Barcelona, and Ronaldo is determined to ensure that happens.
He told Sport Magazine: "Football doesn't always go as you would like but it does still bother me that we lost that game.
"You have to respect Barcelona because they won three big titles last season and that says a lot about their strength but I don't think they were better than us. They were just more efficient when they got their chances.
"The only thing I am not happy about in my final year was that we could not win the Champions League final again but I did all I could for Manchester United.
"I appreciate that United accepted to let me go and I think that I ended my time at the club in the best possible way.
"I don't think anyone can look at my recent years at United and say that I did not do my best.
"Even after I was close to Real Madrid last year and stayed at United, I was focused in giving everything I had in me.
"We won the championship for the third year in a row and reached the second Champions League final in two years."
Real's quest to win the trophy has not been made easy following the draw for the group stages.
Real must get past AC Milan, Marseille and FC Zurich in Group C if they are to reach the knock-out round of the competition.
Vítor Baía hails Cristiano Ronaldo
Former FC Porto and Portugal goalkeeper Vítor Baía saluted countrymen Cristiano Ronaldo and José Mourinho as two greats of the modern game when he visited the uefa.com chatroom as part of the UEFA Super Cup events in Monaco.Ronaldo: I was warned I could end up in defence
Cristiano Ronaldo has spoken about his last meeting with Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson after he learned that a move to Real Madrid had been completed. The Portuguese star, who became the world’s most expensive player following his remarkable £80m transfer switch, also stressed his admiration for the Old Trafford crowd who he praised for helping him through the hard times. the FIFA World Player of the Year stated, revealed his former boss’ last words:
“He said ‘congratulations’. I think he knew it was the right time for me to move on and I think he acknowledged that I needed to go.
“He joked with me and told me that with all the offensive players at Real Madrid, I’d end up playing as a central defender.
“That was just his way of saying ‘good luck, son.’
“I did not get a chance to say goodbye to the fans but I hope they know that I enjoyed every moment playing at Old Trafford and would like to thank them for their support throughout the years. Even in the most difficult times I have always felt their support.”
Ronaldo: I just might not play
As the new Primera Liga season prepares to kick-off, Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted he is not certain of a starting place at Real Madrid.Ronaldo arrived in Madrid this summer after a whopping £80million secured his transfer from Manchester United.
The Portugal international is, nevertheless, just one of a whole host of new arrivals at the Bernabeu, with his fee just part of the staggering £225million spent by Real president Florentino Perez.
With high profile signings such as Kaka and Xabi Alonso, Ronaldo is aware that, despite his standing in the world game, he must consistently weave his magic to be assured of making coach Manuel Pellegrini's first eleven.
"I don't think I will have a more important role in the team than others," he told The Sun.
"I don't think the coach looks at who are the most expensive players.
"He only thinks about putting the best team together and, hopefully, I can be a part of that.
"I know I am not guaranteed a regular spot on the team and if I don't play at my highest level, I will be on the bench.
"I know that in a club like Real Madrid there is not much time for finding your form or else there are a lot of class players waiting to take your spot.
"That pressure can only help me give my very best in every game."
A day after the Champions League group stage draw, Ronaldo has reiterated his desire to make up for last season's final heartbreak at the hands of Barcelona when he was still a United player.
However, the former Old Trafford favourite also has the Primera Liga title in his sights.
"I want to win both the Primera Liga and the Champions League, win everything. Why choose one?
"I have won the Champions League with Manchester United and I still believe that it is the biggest tournament there is to win in all club competitions.
"But I have always admired the Spanish league and dream of winning it one day. When I retire I want to look back and say that I have won both English and Spanish titles, the Champions League and hopefully more international titles."
Real face Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday in their opening game of the new Spanish season.
Madrid's galacticos begin Spanish league chase
MADRID — Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and the rest of Real Madrid's high-priced superstars finally get a chance to show their stuff when the revamped club opens the Spanish league season Saturday against Deportivo La Coruna.Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso are all expected to start at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, while new coach Manuel Pellegrini has the task of leaving other high profile players out of the lineup, including veteran captain Raul Gonzalez.
Pellegrini has no doubts that former Manchester United winger Ronaldo will adapt to the Spanish league following a low-key preseason.
"Cristiano has been put through a change of football and country and he needs a little more time to know the league," the Chilean coach said.
Striker Ruud van Nistelrooy and midfielder Mahamadou Diarra also return from long-term injuries.
"The team is set," said Pellegrini, who will lead the squad in front of a packed stadium that will include 100-metre world-record holder Usain Bolt.
Barcelona, which became the first Spanish team to win the league, Champions League and domestic cup last season, opens Monday against Sporting Gijon. The defending champions are in Monaco on Friday to play Shakhtar Donetsk for the European Supercup.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is expected to start with forward Lionel Messi absent after Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola allowed him to travel to Argentina to prepare for a World Cup qualifier against Brazil.
Barcelona bought Ibrahimovic, the Serie A's top scorer last season, from Inter Milan and also included striker Samuel Eto'o in the swap.
"Of course there is pressure, you play for Barcelona," Ibrahimovic said. "But the most pressure comes from myself because I want to do good, I want to demonstrate. I want to give results back."
Madrid's spending was also on Barcelona's mind.
"Definitely that is a motivation because now we know that Madrid is a big team to beat and they are our major rival and we will try to win again," Barcelona defender Gerard Pique said.
Midfielder Andres Iniesta and defender Rafael Marquez remain sidelined by injury for Barcelona.
Sevilla plays Valencia on Sunday in a matchup of teams who will be looking to stay in touch with the favourites.
"(Barcelona and Real Madrid) are two great teams. But I also think that the more open the league gets the better for all of us," Valencia coach Unai Emery said. "We want to be able to put up a competition to them."
Both clubs are among a group of four - also including Atletico Madrid and Villarreal - that will be fighting for a top-four finish to qualify for the Champions League next season.
"We need to occupy the position that Valencia deserves. And that is to be among the top four teams in the league," Emery said. "We formed a team with players that we think have our same philosophy."
Valencia hung on to Spain forwards David Villa and David Silva for that, while Sevilla bought striker Alvaro Negredo to bolster its prospects.
Espanyol, which begins its season following the unexpected death of captain Daniel Jarque, plays Athletic Bilbao. Midfielder Ivan de la Pena will wear the captain's armband.
Also Sunday, it's: Malaga vs. Atletico Madrid; Mallorca vs. Xerez; Osasuna vs. Villarreal; Racing Santander vs. Getafe; and Almeria vs. Valladolid.
Zaragoza plays Tenerife on Saturday in a matchup of newly promoted teams.
Will This Be Cristiano Ronaldo’s New Home In Madrid?
There has been much speculation on where Cristiano Ronaldo will move to in Madrid. The word around the net is that he will be leasing a bachelor bungalow designed by architect Joaquin Torres for approximately €12,000 per month with an option to buy for approximately €5 million. The word is that Cristiano Ronaldo’s new home will have 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1 cinema, 1 pool and a number of other luxuries like whirlpool. With 24 hour per day security and the latest in anti-intrusion alarms, Cristiano’s new pad will hope to ward off the ever present paparazzi who can’t seem to get enough of the former Manchester Winger.
As you can see by the images, Cristiano Ronaldo’s new surroundings will be significantly upgraded and modernized with sleek lines and angles that you would expect from a young and energetic 24 year old mega-super-star footballer like Cristiano Ronaldo.
Lastly, Cristiano Ronaldo’s new home will be only minutes from Madrid’s training ground and because it is a bungalow will reduce the possibility of injury due to slipping on stairs which is no doubt a relief for the Madrid owners who will want to keep the
ir star player injury free.
Ronaldo needs time to adapt say Real
Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini has called for Cristiano Ronaldo to be given time to adapt to his new surroundings following his world record transfer. The £80m Portugal star has flown under the radar during pre-season games for his new club.
The likes of Kaka, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso have all made instant impressions, but despite Ronaldo's relatively quiet performances, Pellegrini is not worried about the price tag weighing heavy on the player's mind.
"Cristiano Ronaldo needs a little time to adapt to his new team's style," he said.
"Every player on the squad is working hard to be fit and play well.
"Cristiano has experienced a change in style and now lives in a different country.
"He needs a little more time unlike those who already know La Liga."
Elsewhere, Barcelona striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is looking forward to playing in a more attacking and exciting league after leaving Italy for Spain this summer.
The Sweden international swapped Internazionale for the Spanish and European champions in a 40million euro deal and is relishing the prospect of displaying his attacking talents in La Liga.
"In Italy all the squads are strong in defence and defend much more than attack," he said.
"Here it is not as stressful as when I played with Inter. The pace and atmosphere is more relaxed and I can concentrate on football.
"La Liga took the two best players from Serie A and the Premier League so this league is very special."
Ronaldo eyes United return
CRISTIANO RONALDO could be heading back to Old Trafford when the Champions League draw is held in Monaco today.For Spanish giants Real Madrid - Ron's new club - are ranked as second seeds in today's 5pm draw.
And that means they could be in the same group as Manchester United or ANY of the other English clubs.
Liverpool, Chelsea, United and Arsenal are all top eight rated teams with Barcelona, AC Milan, Seville and Bayern Munich.
But Madrid have dropped into the second tier after failing to go beyond the second-round for the past five years.
That makes them the side everyone wants to avoid after spending a staggering £200million this summer on ex-United star Ronaldo, Kaka, Xabi Alonso and Karim Benzema.
Lyon, Inter, Juventus and Porto are also among the second seeds.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s waiting in the wings for Fergie
Sir Alex Ferguson will be sweating on today’s Champions League draw in the knowledge that his side could land Cristiano Ronaldo and his new Real Madrid team-mates.The Spanish giants might have smashed the world transfer record with the £80million acquisition of Ronaldo, not to mention £56m Kaka and a string of other big-money signings, but they go into Thursday afternoon’s draw here in Monaco among the eight second seeds.
That actually means any one of the four English clubs in the draw could find themselves in a group with Madrid because Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal — who secured their place in the draw with victory over Celtic at the Emirates on Wednesday — are all top seeds.
For new Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti there is a scenario he will dread even more than Madrid — two group stage encounters with Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan.
Judging by Ancelotti’s recently published autobiography, he is not a huge fan of the man who previously occupied the Stamford Bridge hot seat — he openly mocks him for the ‘special’ way he refers to himself — and the idea of meeting Mourinho in two competitive games so early in his own tenure after switching from AC Milan is unlikely to be something he relishes.
A group including Juventus, another of his former employers, might also be something Ancelotti would be keen to avoid. Such is the seeding this year one English team could find themselves in a particularly tricky group.
As well as three giants of the European game in the second pot, there are some highly-rated sides among the third and fourth seeded teams. Two sides will qualify from each group but that might not be easy for the English quartet should one of them find they also have Atletico Madrid or Stuttgart in their group as a third seeded team — or possibly even a fourth seeded team in German champions Wolfsburg.
For Ferguson, however, a meeting with Ronaldo could prove particularly painful. His side might have impressed against Wigan last weekend but their performances against Burnley and Birmingham demonstrated how much of a void has been left by the departure of the world’s best player.
Especially when spending the money United received for the Portugal winger has proved so difficult to spend. In part that is because Ronaldo’s transfer has so inflated the market other clubs are demanding crazy amounts for players Ferguson, and indeed other top managers, no longer considers value for money.
United and Chelsea have both expressed an interest in Franck Ribery but not at £65m — the price that has been quoted by Bayern Munich all summer.
I Have Nothing To Prove To Anyone
Real Madrid midfielder Cristiano Ronaldo says he has "nothing to prove" and has no worries about his middling pre-season form.With the new season kicking off in three days, the 24-year-old says the whole Galacticos squad is looking forward to competitive football, which starts with an away tie against Deportivo La Coruna.
"The entire team is waiting for the start of the league, I hope things go well and we can enjoy a win at Depor," said Ronaldo, according to AS.
"I don't worry about my form. The only important thing is that Madrid win. I am calm, working hard and I am with a fantastic group."
While he sought to avoid comparisons with treble champions Barcelona, the former Manchester United superstar says that there is no pressure on Los Blancos.
"We don't think about Barcelona. We must do a good job all year and see how far we get. We have no pressure," he remarked.
Cristiano Ronaldo: ``No worries about moderate pre-season form``
Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo isn’t afraid of criticism. The Portuguese midfielder says he has `nothing to prove to anyone`. The record signing of the Merengues has no worries about his moderate pre-season form, he said to AS. ``I don’t worry about my form, the only important thing is that Madrid win. I am calm, working hard and I am with a fantastic group.``
Ronaldo tried to avoid comparisons with arch enemy Barcelona, three days before the start of the league against Deportivo La Coruña. ``We don’t think about Barcelona. We must do a good job all year and see how far we get. We have no pressure.’’
The 24-year-old Galactico says the whole squad is looking forward to competitive football. ``The entire team is waiting for the start of the league, I hope things go well and we can enjoy a win at Depor.``
Real Madrid Are Ready For La Liga - Cristiano Ronaldo
Real Madrid winger Cristiano Ronaldo has told AS that his side are ready for the beginning of the Primera Division campaign following their 4-0 thrashing of Norwegian outfit Rosenborg in their final pre-season friendly.A brace from Karim Benzema and a goal each from Lassana Diarra and Raul completed a comprehensive victory for Los Merengues in the Santiago Bernabeu Trophy, and Ronaldo is now looking forward to the season ahead.
"We are comfortable, calm and ready for the league to start," said the 24-year-old.
Ronaldo also emphasised that winning is the only thing his team has in mind as they prepare for their league opener away to Deportivo La Coruna.
"The objective is to always win but we must be calm and take it step by step," added the Portugal international.
"The team is ready and we will build a winning form bit by bit and always thinking positive.
Pellegrini: Cristiano Ronaldo Needs More Time
Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini has told AS that Cristiano Ronaldo has not fully adapted to playing for Real Madrid, but he isn't far off."In pre-season there has been a lot of hard work and Cristiano has had to cope with many changes - a new country, a new league - and that takes time to adapt. I think he'll be in good form for the start of La Liga," said the Chilean.
On the whole, the gaffer has been impressed with his team in pre-season and feels things have taken shape the way he would like.
"The team has done well in pre-season and we will have many options to make a first eleven. We will look to have possession, create chances and win, that is what fans want to see," he remarked.
The former Villarreal coach is also refusing to set any long-term objectives for his new-look Madrid side, claiming that three points in the season opener away to Deportivo La Coruna is the objective for now.
"Setting a long-term goal would be unwise. We need to start with three points against Depor and show week by week that we are prepared," added Pellegrini.
Paris Hilton ‘Thinks Cristiano Ronaldo is a Sissy’
Paris Hilton has already moved on from her hotel hookup with soccer stud Cristiano Ronaldo — because he’s not macho enough!The socialite — who split from beau Doug Reinhardt earlier this month — recently hooked up with the Real Madrid star in LA.
But Hilton isn’t interested in dating Ronaldo long-term — as she thinks he’s a “sissy”.
“Paris has told Cristiano she isn’t interested in anything long-term. She says he’s cute and a cool person to hang out with, but that’s not the issue,” a source told American tabloid the National Enquirer.
“She likes her guys to be macho — and as far as she’s concerned Ronaldo turned out to be a real sissy!”
“The first night Paris and Cristiano hooked up, they had a great time together,” the source adds. “He was showering her with compliments and telling her she was the most gorgeous girl he’d ever met.
“But the next night, he was incredibly shy and there were lots of awkward silences whenever Paris tried to strike up conversation.
“Despite his status as an international sports icon, Cristiano obviously felt overwhelmed he was dating such a huge Hollywood celebrity. He was just too uptight for her to find attractive.
“In the end, Paris realized their relationship simply wasn’t clicking — and told him they’d be better off as friends.
“During the time they spent together, the more Paris got to know him, the more she realized he’s actually very boring and not nearly hot enough.
“He seemed more interested in checking out his own looks and hanging out with his pals.”
“Paris,” continued the insider,” likes her men rugged and macho — it’s as simple as that. She thought her friends would laugh at her if she dated a guy who walks around with flowers in his hair.
“As cute as Cristiano is, she likes her guys to be rough and all man. That’s what she goes for — not some guy who dresses like a girl!”
Paris Hilton Reveals Why She Dumped Cristiano Ronaldo
Paris Hilton has revealed why she ended her short-lived romance with soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo — she didn’t want to be “just a WAG”.The socialite recently hooked up with the Real Madrid star in LA.
But Paris insists she never wanted to have a serious relationship with Cristiano.
“I didn’t want to start dating Ronaldo because I’ve got no intention of ending up becoming some kind of footballer’s wife,” she said.
“People were saying we were the new Posh and Becks — in fact that’s what people said I was going around saying — but it’s not true.
“Posh and Becks are a beautiful and amazing couple but I would not want to be just a footballer’s wife.
“But some girls just become known for being a footballer’s girl. I wouldn’t ever want to be pigeon-holed like that.”
Meanwhile, it has been reported that Hilton, 28, has rekindled her romance with former flame Doug Reinhardt.
“Paris says that Doug keeps her grounded in her crazy life and she has now been referring to her relationship with him as on-off, but more on than off,” a source told Britain’s News of The World newspaper.
Cristiano Ronaldo ‘Really Liked Paris Hilton’
Cristiano Ronaldo “really liked” Paris Hilton and was apparently “gutted” when the socialite rekindled her romance with former flame Doug Reinhardt.Hilton, 28, reportedly told Ronaldo over the phone, “This isn’t going to work.”
She then ran away for a break in Fiji with baseball star Reinhardt.
“They kept in touch for a bit but they didn’t actually get to see each other because of their busy schedules, a source close to Ronaldo told Britain’s Daily Star Sunday. “Then in the end Paris told him it was never going to work. He was pretty gutted, to be honest. He really liked her.”
Ronaldo and Hilton hooked up earlier this year in Los Angeles
Cristiano Ronaldo “CR9″ Watch Choice: Corum Admiral’s Cup Competition 48 mm
People know that the most expensive soccer player in the world CRISTIANO RONALDO has his own fashion line called “CR7” collections. The store has already been in Funchal - Madeira and Lisbon, selling CR7 jeans, shoes, and accessories. However, the line doesn’t include wrist watch. Perhaps, it’s because Ronaldo’s club since 2003, Manchester United features the official watches: Hublot Red Devil Bang.Since few weeks ago, FIFA World Player of the Year 2008 CRISTIANO RONALDO has moved to Real Madrid F.C. on July 1st, 2009 with a highest transfer record fee in football’s history, worth £80 million (€94m, US$132m), and CR7 has become CR9. Will he changed his boutique’s name into “CR9 Store” and include CR9 Watch on the collections then? (But he must consider that Real Madrid F.C has its official football club wrist watch either).
Well,..we’ll see about it.
Anyway, Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro featured in MARCA, the Spanish sports newspaper wearing a CORUM ADMIRAL’S CUP COMPETITION 48 mm DIAMOND WATCH on his wrist. Over 6 pages in the July 4th issue are dedicated to the highest-paid player in the world in which we discover which model Cristiano wears. The Portuguese national team’s captain has indirectly paid tribute to CORUM – La Chaux-De-Fonds, Suisse, the Swiss Watch Manufacture.
The CORUM ADMIRAL’S CUP COMPETITION 48 mm features rigorous style of the titanium case which is entirely in keeping with the sophisticated futuristic keel of the impressive modern sailboats or motor-yachts, sharply defined by clear-cut angles. The distinctive twelve-sided case design of the Admiral’s Cup line has been retained and even enhanced by a superb touch of technological refinement. The anti-reflective sapphire crystal is also cut to mirror the twelve facets while maintaining perfect water-resistance to a depth of 30 atmospheres (990 feet/300 meters). A substantial time-setting crown, easy both to grip and turn, is set into a vulcanized rubber lateral case extension, thus ensuring optimal protection of this critical component. The screw-down feature reinforces water-resistance.
