Читать книгу Cristiano Ronaldo - Matt Oldfield - Страница 7

ARRIVING IN A NEW country as a youngster is naturally a very daunting prospect. When you consider that Ronaldo moved to Manchester with limited knowledge of the English language and left the warm Lisbon climate behind, it was a big lifestyle change. Looking back, he acknowledges that his world was turned upside down, ‘It was a big change in my life; the climate, the food and of course the football level. The game is a lot faster here, much more physical.’ The difficulties that Cristiano experienced adjusting to life in Manchester should not be underestimated.

Additionally, he faced the intense pressure of not only replacing the departed David Beckham, but also continuing the long line of Manchester United number 7s. George Best, Steve Coppell, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona and Beckham, amongst others, had given United supporters some of their best memories and the expectation was that Ronaldo would achieve similar feats. Despite initially requesting the number 28 shirt, the club had other ideas. Cristiano told the media that the prospect of emulating the club’s great number 7s was very exciting, ‘I would be very proud if one day I was held in the same esteem as Best or Beckham. It is what I am working towards. The number 7 shirt is an honour and a responsibility. I hope it brings me a lot of luck.’

When Ronaldo moved to Manchester, he arrived with his girlfriend Jordana Jardel (the younger sister of former Brazilian international Mario Jardel). Immediately, comparisons were made with David and Victoria Beckham, who had recently swapped Manchester for sunny Madrid. Jordana, however, wasted no time in dismissing these comparisons with some rather spiteful comments, telling the press, ‘I wouldn’t want to look like her. She is pretty but she is a bit anorexic looking and that is not so attractive, at least not to Portuguese or Brazilian men. I like music but no, I don’t have anything by the Spice Girls in my collection. I don’t think you should sing if you have no talent for singing.’

Jordana also made the bold claim that Cristiano was a better footballer than David Beckham. It was certainly an unusual and interesting way to introduce herself to a new country. ‘Ronaldo is pure natural talent,’ she explained. Meanwhile, Cristiano stayed in the background, concentrating on the season ahead and getting to know his team-mates. Somehow, his girlfriend had managed to make a bigger impact than Cristiano himself in these early moments. The newspapers were quick to take photos of the couple as Ronaldo got his first taste of the English media. He and Jordana would split up during the course of the season, but they remain good friends.

The media instantly swarmed around Cristiano. He would be seeing plenty more of them over the years. As the club’s major summer signing, he hit the headlines regularly in his first few weeks in the country and, with the price tag, much was expected of him. Ronaldo tried to take it all in his stride and announced, ‘I am very happy to be signing for the best team in the world, and especially proud to be the first Portuguese player to join Manchester United. I look forward to helping the team achieve even more success in the years to come.’

Yet, some feared that things would be too intimidating for Ronaldo in the early days. After all, he had arrived at one of the biggest clubs in the world. Sporting Lisbon were a top team in their own right but this was another level altogether. He joined the likes of Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville, who had dominated English football and had Champions League winners’ medals to their names. The weight of expectation resting on Ronaldo’s shoulders was immense for a young man.

Cristiano’s week got even better when, two days after signing for United, he was called up to the Portugal senior squad. Manager Luiz Felipe Scolari, or ‘Big Phil’ as the media liked to call him, wanted to see how the youngster fared on the big stage and decided to hand him an opportunity to impress. Ronaldo was stunned, thrilled and nervous all at the same time. He could never have imagined reaching the dizzy heights of the Portugal national team squad at such a young age. There was still a chance for Cristiano to force his way into the Euro 2004 squad too.

Like many United players, he bought an apartment in Alderley Edge – the exclusive Cheshire village where David Beckham had lived. Reports suggested that he had spent £500,000 on the ground-floor apartment. He would not have to look far for United neighbours as Sir Alex Ferguson and Rio Ferdinand both lived close by. At the time, another neighbour told the Manchester Evening News, ‘He will be made to feel very welcome here.’ It was important for Cristiano to find a property so that he could begin to settle in the area. In his favour was the fact that he had experience of arriving on his own in a new city from his days in Lisbon. He understood about adapting and finding ways to feel comfortable in his unfamiliar surroundings. He may have arrived alone but it was not long before his cousin Nuno and his brother-in-law Zé were joining him. The trio spent plenty of time together, playing ping pong and tennis.

That summer, United were linked with a number of high profile signings, ranging from Brazilian attacker Ronaldinho to Arsenal nemesis Patrick Vieira. Everyone expected the club to recruit big-name midfield players, with Roy Keane and Ryan Giggs moving into the latter stages of their careers. Harry Kewell of Leeds was thought to be on the wish list as an eventual replacement for Giggs. Certainly, few mentioned Ronaldo’s name in discussions about possible transfer targets. Probably even fewer had seen him play!

But Sir Alex Ferguson had decided to focus primarily on the long-term future of the club and this was clearly reflected in his dealings in the transfer market. Along with Ronaldo, young stars such as the Brazilian World Cup winner Kleberson and the Cameroon international Eric Djemba-Djemba were brought to Old Trafford as United sought to build towards long-term domination. The previous campaign, in which the team had pipped Arsenal to the Premiership trophy, had lifted the spirits at the club and there were high hopes that United would produce more exhilarating performances with the new, young blood. Ronaldo may have arrived in England as a skinny 18-year-old with braces, but he had the determination to be a star.

Some feared that United would simply be too inexperienced to enjoy success, especially as the club would once again be chasing four trophies. But Ferguson believed that even though Cristiano was young, the winger still had enough experience. ‘At 18, Ronaldo has gained the experience of playing at the highest level in Portugal, so I don’t see that as a problem,’ he said. Also, there were still plenty of old heads in the United dressing room – Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville to name just three – so Ronaldo would have plenty of people to turn to for advice.

Unfortunately, United’s Portuguese assistant manager, Carlos Queiroz, with whom Ronaldo could have spoken in his native tongue, left the club to take over as manager of Real Madrid. It was disappointing for Queiroz, too, as he had worked hard to secure Ronaldo’s transfer to United. It made the start of Cristiano’s time in England a little trickier not having Queiroz there to relay instructions for him in Portuguese.

But things do not always work out as expected. Despite all Ferguson’s plans for United to develop a stranglehold on the Premiership, success would not come automatically, as the new signings took time to adapt to the new language, new team-mates and a new style of play. Arsenal, meanwhile, certainly felt that they had a point to prove after the heartbreaking end to the 2002/03 campaign. Having dominated the league for long periods, second place was a bitter pill to swallow and many of the team’s stars returned with even greater motivation. If United wanted to retain the title, they would be in for a long, hard fight.

As for Cristiano, he was immediately in the headlines as United’s most expensive signing of the summer. Beckham, for all the controversy, had been a phenomenal player for United and Cristiano was stepping into big shoes. But, even in his early days, nothing seemed to faze the Portuguese winger. He did not feature in the FA Community Shield against Arsenal at the Millennium Stadium, a game that United won 4-3 on penalties, but made his mark on his Premiership debut. Bolton were the visitors on the opening day of the season and, with United only leading 1-0 with half an hour to go, Ferguson turned to Ronaldo in a bid to seal the three points. He did not disappoint. For many, this was the first sight of the new man in action and his spellbinding cameo inspired United to a 4-0 victory. He gave the Bolton back four no end of problems, winning a penalty which Ruud van Nistelrooy failed to convert.

Old Trafford was on its feet. Ferguson said, ‘It looks like the fans have a new hero. It was a marvellous debut, almost unbelievable. I felt his penetration could make a difference for us.’ But he ended with a note of caution, ‘We have to be careful with the boy. You must remember he is only 18. We are going to have to gauge when we use him.’

Cristiano had introduced himself to English football fans in the most mesmerising way possible and had whetted their appetite for more. It left everyone wondering just how good the 18-year-old could become. Paul Scholes was certainly impressed. Referring to Ronaldo’s debut, he said, ‘He came from Portugal with a bit of a reputation and last week he lived up to it.’

Francesco Filho, the Brazilian whom Carlos Queiroz recommended to Ferguson as a youth coach, was also excited about Cristiano’s capabilities. Filho claimed, ‘Ronaldo is an exceptional case.’

Ronaldo’s whirlwind adventure continued apace as he joined up with the Portuguese national team; he was now linking up with the same players he had been idolising only years earlier – the likes of Figo and Rui Costa. It was an amazing story. His displays for the Portugal international youth teams were the first indications of his qualities for a worldwide audience. The Portuguese tend to enjoy plenty of success at youth level and Ronaldo was the latest on a long conveyor belt to burst onto the scene.

He made his international debut in a friendly against Kazakhstan on 20 August 2003, just four days after his United debut. It was a routine match against weak opposition, perfect for introducing a new player to the world stage. He came on as a half-time substitute and gave glimpses of his talent, as he savoured every moment in the Portugal shirt. Despite their clear superiority, Cristiano and his team-mates only managed a 1-0 victory. It had given him a taste of international football and he was desperate to cement a place in the squad ahead of Euro 2004, which would be held in Portugal. The prospect of playing a major tournament in front of his home fans greatly excited him and it gave him added motivation to impress at United.

Ferguson helped to keep Ronaldo’s feet on the ground as he was selected as a substitute for two of the next three games. A trip to St. James’ Park to face Newcastle United gave Ronaldo the chance to meet up with his old friend Hugo Viana, whom the Magpies had signed over the summer for £8.5 million. The two had played together for several years at Sporting Lisbon. Viana had only good things to say about Cristiano, ‘He is quick and strong and has great technique. I’ve known Ronaldo since I was 12 years old. He is my closest friend and we used to do everything together. We dreamed we would play for Sporting and for Portugal.’

Young Portuguese players were clearly in demand across Europe as, along with the transfers of Ronaldo and Viana, exciting winger Ricardo Quaresma completed a move from Sporting to Barcelona.

It was Cristiano who had the last laugh against Newcastle, as United produced a strong second half fightback to win 2-1, through two goals from Paul Scholes. Referee Jeff Winter ought to have shown a red card to Andy O’Brien for a blatant professional foul on Ryan Giggs, but the Reds still had enough quality to break down a stubborn Newcastle team. The players would have to get used to unlocking determined defences as opponents often opted for a 4-5-1 formation, particularly when facing United at Old Trafford. It put more pressure on Ronaldo to perform.

He started the home game against Wolves, but this time his trickery did not have the same effect as in his debut against Bolton. Cristiano tried too many fancy flicks and overcomplicated the team’s build-up, but it was all part of the learning process. It was a disappointing performance against the newly promoted side yet United got a 1-0 win. The other new arrivals, Kleberson and Djemba-Djemba, were having bigger problems with the transition to the English style of play and many were questioning whether they could really be the future for United. Defeat away to Southampton brought an end to the team’s 100 per cent record in the league but, more significantly, it was another inexcusably below-par United performance, even in the absence of Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand. Ronaldo quickly learned that the English media were ruthless when the top sides lost.

The United squad, though, was still brimming with both quality and experience. They responded to the defeat at St. Mary’s by taking 13 points from a possible 15 in their next five Premiership games. Firstly, United travelled to The Valley where Ronaldo instantly upset the home supporters with a couple of theatrical tumbles to earn his side free-kicks. But he was constantly involved and he rose above some of the harsh treatment he received from Charlton defenders to prove United’s main threat.

It was van Nistelrooy’s predatory instincts that settled the game, scoring twice to claim a 2-0 win in a match that had come to life in the final half hour. After the match, Cristiano was the topic of conversation. Chris Perry, the Charlton centre half, showed his frustration when he spoke to the media. He was very unhappy with Ronaldo’s inability to stay on his feet, ‘Once or twice when you go down, it’s legitimate. But he went down five or six times in the game and he certainly was not caught for every single one. It’s a foreign thing but if the press and fans keep on him, he will change,’ he fumed. Perry’s disgust was mirrored by his team-mates, and they all refused to shake hands with Ronaldo at the final whistle to make their point.

Ferguson backed his player, telling the media, ‘I have watched the video again and Cristiano would have needed the strength of Atlas not to go down. We have seen evidence over the weekend that diving is a problem in our game and I believe the introduction of foreign players has brought that part. But I don’t think Ronaldo dived.’

The diving allegations would follow Ronaldo around all season. Former United great George Best chose to focus on the quality of Cristiano’s performance: ‘He was definitely man of the match. He was a magician and, at times, it looked like he had three legs as he was doing so many step-overs.’

The controversy was a major part of Ronaldo’s first season in English football. He quickly noticed the differences between the Premiership and the Portuguese league, feeling that defenders escaped punishment more frequently in England and that referees tended to favour defenders. He was accustomed to seeing a defender booked immediately for a bad challenge, but in the Premiership he thought his markers got away with several fouls before receiving a yellow card. A common sight during Cristiano’s early days was a frustrated, exasperated and quizzical expression on his face as he struggled to accept the referees’ decisions.

Ronaldo was admittedly a very slight young man but he could handle the rough treatment. His days playing street football against older boys had stood him in good stead. Back then, he would be fouled or even beaten up for outwitting his stronger but less skilful opponents. That was not the issue. Cristiano was simply used to flair players being better protected by officials. He had already noticed that referees in Champions League matches were stricter over fouls.

The situation was very delicate and many players’ tendencies to fall easily was a growing trend in world football. As a skilful attacker, Ronaldo felt that he had the right to fall if he was fouled. This continues to be a problem. The difficulty comes from the fact that often minor, more subtle fouls – shirt tugs, nudges, obstructions – are only awarded by referees if a player falls to the ground. When he tries to stay on his feet, a player is rarely awarded a free-kick. The same is true of football all over the world.

In midweek, United began their European campaign with a 5-0 win over Greek side Panathinaikos. Ronaldo was pleased with the Champions League group stage draw, as the Reds received three very beatable opponents. As well as Panathinaikos, United would face Stuttgart of Germany and Glasgow Rangers. Facing Rangers at Ibrox was a match that excited Ronaldo greatly, and his team-mates told him all about the kind of atmosphere to expect when the team travelled to Glasgow.

Ferguson opted to rest Ronaldo against the Greeks in order to keep the winger fresh and, in fairness, he was not required on a night when United overpowered their opponents. Five different scorers showed good squad depth and everyone was pleased with a winning start in the competition. Part of the incentive for Cristiano in joining United was the chance to compete and challenge for the Champions League trophy. But he would have to wait before he got his first appearance in the competition.

By leaving Ronaldo and captain Roy Keane on the bench, Ferguson ensured that they were raring to go for the home fixture against Arsenal on 21 September. A tight battle ended in a 0-0 draw, but it was not lacking in controversy. The first 80 minutes were rather uneventful, but the contest truly sparked into life when Patrick Vieira was sent off late-on. Diego Forlan then won a dubious penalty, van Nistelrooy smashed it against the underside of the crossbar and a mêlée broke out between United and Arsenal players. The Gunners, having put in a very good performance, behaved disgracefully in taunting and shoving van Nistelrooy over his penalty miss, and it all left a sour taste in the mouth.

It certainly was not a happy first experience of the United–Arsenal rivalry for Ronaldo, whose willing runs were well-marshalled by Ashley Cole. The winger also found himself involved in the chaotic aftermath as tempers flared on both sides, clashing with Martin Keown and earning himself an improper conduct charge. The FA took firm action, particularly against the Arsenal players, handing out fines and bans to Lauren (four games), Keown (three games) and Ray Parlour (one game). For United, Ronaldo and Giggs received fines. Predictably, a poll in the Manchester Evening News showed that 90 per cent of people felt that the punishments given to the United players were unfair.

A van Nistelrooy hat-trick sealed a 4-1 win away to Leicester on 27 September, putting United back on track. Ronaldo was an unused substitute as Ferguson looked to prevent his young star from tiring. With the team competing for four trophies, the manager knew he had to keep shuffling his pack in order to get the best from his players. Ronaldo returned to the starting line-up for the Champions League match away to Stuttgart. Despite playing well in patches, it was a bad night for United as the Germans took advantage of a few sloppy moments to go 2-0 up. It was Ronaldo who pulled United back into the game when he was fouled in the area and van Nistelrooy despatched the resulting penalty. At the other end, Tim Howard saved a Stuttgart penalty to keep United in the hunt for a point, but it was not to be – and the Reds could have few complaints.

The Germans, however, had one particular complaint to make. Stuttgart goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand made it clear that he was unhappy with Ronaldo’s role in earning United their penalty, ‘I had been told that Ronaldo had a reputation in England for diving and I have to say that after this game I can see why that is. He definitely dived for his penalty. I was behind him and the next minute he was on the floor. The referee was fooled.’

This outburst was the second time that Cristiano had been accused of diving by opponents and he had only been at the club a matter of months. He struggled to understand what all the fuss was about.

Birmingham arrived at Old Trafford fearing a backlash after United’s European defeat. Their worst fears were confirmed when the Reds put in a fluent performance to win 3-0. Ferguson left Ronaldo on the bench and the winger sat comfortably as his team-mates turned on the style. It was a little reminder for Cristiano that there was plenty of work ahead of him if he wanted to be a regular in the United first team. There were a number of other players ready to snatch the winger’s place if his standards dropped.

Hungry though he was for more international experience, Ronaldo had to wait until October for his next appearance, having missed out on the friendlies against Spain (a 3-0 defeat) and Norway (a 1-0 victory). A home game against Albania gave him another opportunity to impress and this time Scolari named Ronaldo in the starting line-up. The winger experienced walking out to a packed stadium and singing the national anthem with his team-mates for the first time. It was reassuring to look around the team and see so many veterans of international football. Captain Luis Figo, playmaker Rui Costa and striker Pedro Pauleta had all collected knowledge through years of playing at the highest level – both at club and international level. They helped to ease Cristiano into the set up and it was important that he had players to turn to for advice.

The game against Albania proved to be a thrilling contest, with Portugal eventual 5-3 winners. Ronaldo thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere of the occasion, but he was substituted at half-time to allow others to stake their claims for a place in the Euro 2004 squad. As hosts, Portugal had qualified automatically for the competition and so played friendlies in the build-up to the tournament rather than qualifiers. These friendlies were the only chances to impress the manager and Cristiano was anxious to know whether he had shown enough potential to earn a place in Scolari’s plans. Albania were far from a strong side but to score five goals was a positive sign nonetheless, and Ronaldo was well aware that he faced stiff competition for a spot in the Euro 2004 squad. But every now and again he had to pinch himself – he still found his progress from the Sporting youth teams to the Portuguese national team unbelievable. Now a major international tournament beckoned for the young winger, if he got the nod from Scolari.

At Elland Road against Leeds on 18 October, the Portuguese star was restored to the line-up and was never far from the action. Rio Ferdinand, returning to his former club, received a hostile reception, but Ronaldo did not escape their abuse either. One tumble earned him a yellow card for diving and an earful from the Elland Road crowd. The exciting aspect for Ferguson was that Ronaldo did not hide in such situations and continued to seek the ball in the final third of the pitch. He struck the angle of bar and post with a long-range strike and kept the Leeds back four on their toes. United left it late to grab the three points, as Roy Keane headed home Gary Neville’s cross with nine minutes remaining. It was a valuable 1-0 win, which the players had deserved.

In the build up to the midweek Champions League fixtures, Portugal international Costinha warned Rangers that they were in for a tough night when facing Cristiano. ‘I think the Rangers left back will need an awful lot of luck when he comes up against Ronaldo in his current form. I believe the kid is now ready to make a real impact in the Champions League. He has a strong mentality and the challenge won’t scare him,’ he said. As chance would have it, United would see Costinha and his Porto team-mates later in the season.

But, as was becoming typical with Ferguson, he gave Ronaldo a place on the bench again for the European match with Rangers after his display against Leeds. Sir Alex was determined not to overuse Cristiano so early in his career. Phil Neville was United’s hero as they put in a very professional team performance to win 1-0 at Ibrox. Cristiano was just disappointed not to experience the atmosphere himself. With a home game against Rangers to come, United felt confident of making the next round of the competition.

Domestically, though, Ronaldo and his team-mates played poorly at home to Fulham and suffered an embarrassing 3-1 defeat. It was one of the winger’s worst displays of the season, as he struggled to make an impact on the match and wasted the ball too often. With a style of play like his, there were bound to be off days and Cristiano tried to remember this in his disappointment. Ferguson was left to rue his decision to rest Roy Keane, as Steed Malbranque weaved his magic in Fulham’s midfield. It was the kind of result that United could do without if they were to match Arsenal’s strong start.

Despite not producing their best form, United continued to pick up points both domestically and in the Champions League. After losing against Fulham, the team won six consecutive games in all competitions. November began well with a 3-0 home win over Portsmouth. Ronaldo and Keane came off the bench for brief cameos and turned a nervy 1-0 lead into an emphatic victory; Ronaldo scored United’s second goal with a fizzing free-kick from the left touchline that evaded everyone and curled into the corner of the net and Keane grabbed the third. Cristiano’s relationship with Keane was an intriguing one. His captain was as vocal as anyone in letting Ronaldo know when he had made the wrong decision, yet significantly, his words seemed to inspire Cristiano rather than leave him dejected.

Ronaldo’s display against Portsmouth was further evidence of the impact that he could have on a game and he was relishing playing in front of 75,000 people inside Old Trafford. Ferguson was pleased with the result, but he was well aware that Arsenal had flown out of the blocks at the start of the season and were yet to be beaten. Arsène Wenger’s players seemed extremely focused on bringing the trophy back to London. Having lost two Premiership games already, United were playing catch-up.

Victory over Rangers in the Champions League pushed United towards the next stage of the competition. Cristiano returned to the starting line-up as Ferguson revealed his tactics regarding keeping the youngster fresh, ‘What we realised after the game we lost in Stuttgart is maybe we asked too much of him. We keep forgetting he is only 18. We can’t ask him to play every game.’ A 3-0 scoreline reflected the team’s dominance and Ronaldo played a key role in the team’s second goal, scored by van Nistelrooy. Cristiano’s energetic display made it harder for Ferguson to leave him out of the team.

One of the grittiest performances of United’s season came in the cauldron of Anfield on 9 November, as Liverpool were beaten 2-1. Ferguson chose to leave Ronaldo on the bench, selecting a more defensive line-up and perhaps thinking that the tension of the occasion might affect the youngster. Keane had a phenomenal game and United took plenty of positives from the match. It was a major boost for an injury-hit squad and Cristiano savoured the jubilant mood in the dressing room. Seeing the reactions of club stalwarts Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs, Ronaldo quickly understood the passion involved in matches against Liverpool. The team won again two weeks later against Blackburn, with Ronaldo providing a cameo off the bench.

Ronaldo was selected in a very young United team for the away Champions League fixture against Panathinaikos on 26 November, and he seemed to relish the responsibility of being one of the few regular first-team players. He enjoyed the weight of expectation. It was a narrow 1-0 win, through a late Diego Forlan goal, but there was little to praise in the team performance apart from Ronaldo’s contribution. He constantly eluded his marker and tried his best to craft chances for his team-mates, almost finding Giggs on one occasion. The result meant that United cruised into the Champions League second round and there was plenty of belief in the squad that they could go all the way to the final.

But in the league, Arsenal were proving untouchable and seemed intent on exacting revenge on United for the previous season’s disappointments. When United lost 1-0 away to Chelsea on 30 November, their title chances were already looking bleak. On the bright side, with every game, Ronaldo was learning more about his team-mates and about the team’s style of play. It was a tough learning curve, with every move monitored so closely, but signs of development were evident. His grasp of the English language was slowly improving and the more he learned, the more comfortable he felt in the dressing room with his team-mates, who had given him the fairly unoriginal nickname ‘Ronny’.

However, the big criticism levelled at the winger was the lack of an end product. His skills regularly left defenders flummoxed and he would find himself in excellent positions, but he would then let himself down with a poor cross or a weak shot. This seemed not to concern Ferguson, but his boss must surely have hoped Ronaldo would contribute more goals to the team. In these early months of his career in England, it was easy to forget that Ronaldo was still so young and the United supporters needed to be patient with him. Ferguson rarely misjudges young footballers and he certainly did not on this occasion. His main concern was that Ronaldo did not burn out, but with the United squad so badly hit by injuries, the heavy fixture list left Sir Alex with little choice.

The United manager explained to the media that he wanted to give his winger a rest, once the congested Christmas fixture list had finished, to prevent Cristiano from suffering with exhaustion, ‘He is only 18 and we have to be careful how we use him. The secret will be giving him a good long rest, maybe for about three weeks, which will allow him to come on again later in the season.’

It is always a delicate situation for a manager – the dilemma of whether to rest a young player with a view to the future or to play him regularly to aim for short-term success. Ferguson was lucky enough to have able deputies, and this made his choice easier.

It was strange for Ronaldo not to have the luxury of a winter break. He had been accustomed to a rest over the Christmas period back in Portugal, but found that in England the fixture list actually became more congested at that time of year. It made little sense and came as a bit of shock to Cristiano, but he put his gloves on and faced the worst of the English winter. It was all part of the learning experience, and it was something that he had to get used to because there was no sign of the FA adopting the winter break any time soon.

Bad news arrived for United in December, in the shape of Rio Ferdinand’s eight-month suspension for missing a drugs test. Ferdinand received a £50,000 fine, along with the ban, after the verdict of a three-man FA disciplinary panel. The ban was due to begin on 12 January. The club made it clear that they would appeal and, if an appeal was lodged, the defender would be able to keep playing until the issue was resolved. It was a bitter blow for the team, but Ronaldo tried to think positively about Rio’s absence. The two had struck up a good friendship and got on very well. Of his new team-mate, Cristiano said, ‘Ferdinand is a great player, one of the best defenders in the world, and an athlete of his quality is always needed. Still, Manchester United has many good players and there will be valid alternatives to fill his spot.’ Speaking at the time of year when presents are traditionally handed out, he also mentioned his own aim for the season, ‘The best gift for me this season would be to be selected for Portugal’s squad in Euro 2004. That is the big objective of any player.’

Though United trailed in the title race, the players proved that they were still capable of some stunning performances. After a weakened side lost to West Brom in the Carling Cup, the team won eight games in a row in all competitions to hit back at the critics. Ronaldo, who may have expected to be used mainly as a substitute in his first season in England, was regularly playing the full 90 minutes and entertaining crowds up and down the country with his footwork. As usual with United, the Christmas period had brought out their best displays, with the team taking maximum points. Yet there still remained a feeling that the club’s weaknesses could be exploited, and Arsenal’s exceptional form showed no signs of fading as they stretched their unbeaten run.

Further disappointment for Ronaldo came from the fact that some were critical of Ferguson’s new signings because they had not had an instant, brilliant impact. While Djemba-Djemba and Kleberson had failed to live up to expectations, Cristiano had shown patches of excellent football. Yet he still seemed to be carrying some blame for the side’s inability to reach the heights of the previous season. This view, though it may have had some merit, appeared to overlook the injury problems at the club and the need for the younger players to settle at Old Trafford. To expect Ronaldo to lead United’s title charge in his first Premiership season, and at such a young age, was massively unrealistic.

Cristiano put in one of his most gutsy performances of the season away to Everton on Boxing Day. United desperately needed the points and Ronaldo showed great resilience to overcome some very physical marking. Gary Neville praised the winger’s courage, ‘Cristiano Ronaldo was brilliant. He was a constant danger. He takes the ball all the time. No matter if he loses, or he gets fouled, he comes back for more. He is a really brave player. He had a few lumps kicked out of him but people can never question his bravery.’ Neville even admitted that he would be tempted to put a few kicks in on Ronaldo if he was facing him because the youngster’s skills were so dazzling.

Ronaldo had always taken the physical challenges as a compliment to the threat that he poses to opposition sides. It was an extra challenge for him to overcome to prove his quality. He explained his point in the media, ‘When defenders think there is a player capable of creating danger, they try to stop him no matter what, and often that means fouling him. When defenders get so aggressive, it just proves that they are worried about a player because he is quick and skilful.’ While such tussles left Cristiano with cuts and bruises, he enjoyed the satisfaction of knowing that the opposition had been afraid of his ability.

The New Year saw the continuation of Sir Alex’s on-going row with John Magnier and JP McManus, whose company, Cubic Expression, owned over 25 per cent of United. The quarrel escalated due to disagreements over the ownership of the racehorse Rock of Gibraltar. Ferguson claimed he had been offered a half-share in the horse, which went on to achieve great success and earn in the region of £150 million. The dispute became rather nasty, and it was an unwanted distraction for Sir Alex. He had enough problems on his plate.

January and February ended any realistic hope of United catching Arsenal at the top of the Premiership, much to Ronaldo’s frustration. January began well for the team with a 2-1 win away to Aston Villa in the FA Cup – Villa Park has often been a happy hunting ground for the Reds – and United were hopeful of enjoying a long run in the competition. Another good win, again away from home, in the Premiership against Bolton suggested that the players had carried their Christmas form into the New Year. Ronaldo felt that United could at the very least apply pressure to Arsenal in the hope that they could claw themselves back into contention.

But their Premiership form soon fell away again. A disappointing 0-0 draw at home to Newcastle was followed by a devastating 1-0 loss to lowly Wolves at Molineux on 17 January, where Ronaldo toiled to produce chances that were not converted. It seemed that at times he was on a different wavelength to the team’s strikers, and this explained some of the side’s scoring problems. Louis Saha arrived from Fulham for around £13 million in the January transfer window, and it would take time for him to settle at the club. His form so far during the campaign suggested he would score plenty of goals at the Theatre of Dreams. But he had come in at a tricky time with United’s form wobbling badly.

The gap at the top increased further due to these slip-ups, and Arsenal must have been laughing at United’s inconsistency. It frustrated everybody at Old Trafford that the players were not putting Arsenal under any pressure – if anything they were gifting the Gunners an advantage. The defeat away to Wolves had been an initial sign of trouble before United conceded eight goals in their next three league matches, winning two and losing at home to Middlesbrough.

On a more positive note, Ronaldo and his team-mates kept up their pursuit of the FA Cup with a 3-0 win over Northampton on 25 January and it seemed as though this was the only competition in which United could play consistently well. In a second-string line-up, Ronaldo was the star of the show. He relished taking on the Northampton defenders and tied them in knots with his skills. His threat led to him being fouled in the area – though contact was minimal – but Forlan missed the spot-kick. Ronaldo did not end up on the scoresheet, yet he was seemingly everywhere, crafting United’s best moments and exploiting the tiring legs of the opposition. Against the same team that George Best had fired six goals in a single afternoon, the current United number 7 was fittingly the key man.

United were involved in some thrilling contests. Defensively, though, they were stretched by an injury to Gary Neville and the suspension of Rio Ferdinand. It led to some confusion in the back four, and the team found themselves having to score more goals to win games. At home to Southampton, United conceded two but scored three to seal a less than convincing win. Louis Saha scored on his United debut, but Old Trafford was somewhat stunned by the side’s current vulnerability. The untried back four of O’Shea, Brown, Silvestre and Fortune struggled to deal with an energetic Southampton attack as Kevin Phillips struck twice.

Away to Everton on 7 February, United’s defensive problems were highlighted once more. With Ronaldo only a substitute, United still had the creativity to destroy the Toffees in a sweeping first half display that seemed to have clinched the points for the Reds. But a 3-0 lead was quickly squandered as the team wilted under pressure. Confidence in the defence looked minimal and Everton exploited it. Cristiano could only warm-up and hope that Ferguson sent him on to remedy the situation. Just when it looked like United were heading for a disappointing draw, substitute Ronaldo burst down the right, his cross found van Nistelrooy at the far post and the Dutchman headed in a dramatic winner. Ferguson was thrilled with the win and Ronaldo’s impact during his brief cameo. It was the type of flowing football that the team was clearly capable of producing, but for some reason it had been missing for parts of the season. Cristiano left the field delighted with his brief contribution, especially in the face of some of the criticism of his end product.

The FA Cup Fifth Round served up a treat, as United were drawn against neighbours Manchester City at Old Trafford on 14 February. This Manchester derby, like so many before it, was a bad tempered affair and Cristiano would be called upon to make a difference. When Gary Neville was sent off in the first half for a head-butt on Steve McManaman, United had to resort to counter-attacks, and this played into Ronaldo’s hands. City left-back Michael Tarnat endured a torrid time, as Ronaldo danced past him and set up wave after wave of United attacks. The fact that the Reds had only ten players did not allow City into the game as expected but only exposed them to the ruthless pace and skill of United’s attackers. Ronaldo got on the scoresheet with the team’s third goal in a solid 4-2 win, and his popularity rose even higher in the estimations of the United fans – after all, a win over City is always a season highlight, and the Old Trafford fans certainly needed something to cheer about.

Cristiano was back with the Portugal squad again in mid-February for another friendly – this time against England. Having sat out of two friendlies in November, one of which was an emphatic 8-0 win over Kuwait, Ronaldo was itching to take on the English and impress Scolari. Not only was it a chance to pit his wits against club colleagues, but it was the type of exciting game that brings the best out of him. He was also anxious not to lose any ground in the race for a place in the Euro 2004 squad.

Scolari chose to leave Ronaldo on the bench for the first half, but he came on for the second period. England took the lead through Ledley King, but Ronaldo helped his team claw their way back into the game. The equaliser arrived after 70 minutes through an excellent strike from Pauleta. It was a good result all round, and Ronaldo was able to laugh and joke with his United colleagues after the game. Nights like this were important building blocks for Ronaldo’s international career as he showed his strong character. Every international match that Cristiano played served as good experience and helped him learn more about other European sides. This information would be useful in case Portugal met these sides in major international tournaments, where it would be vital to know opponents’ strengths and weaknesses.

If January and February had been below-par for United, worse was to follow in a forgettable March. As well as a busy domestic programme, the Champions League second round awaited against Jose Mourinho’s Porto, and gradually attention turned to the club’s bid for European glory. Few really rated Porto’s chances, but they had looked solid during the group stage. Everyone was a little edgy, but few could have anticipated what was to come.

United arrived in Portugal with plenty of confidence in their ability to score away goals but, with only one clean sheet in their last seven league games, there were defensive problems to worry about. Porto duly recovered from Quinton Fortune’s early goal to win 2-1, and a frustrating night ended with captain Roy Keane being sent off for stepping on the grounded Porto goalkeeper Vitor Baia. Ferguson so desperately craved another European triumph, but the current squad simply did not have the talent of the 1999 team. There were too many inexperienced players and, for all Ronaldo’s improvements, he had plenty to learn at the highest level. But he was disappointed that he was only given 14 minutes to impress as a substitute.

This match marked the beginning of the Ferguson–Mourinho relationship. The United manager was unhappy about Baia’s part in Keane’s dismissal, suggesting the goalkeeper over-exaggerated the contact. In the wake of the game, it was the red card that overshadowed a below-par display from Ronaldo and his team-mates. Mourinho was quick to remind United of their shortcomings, proudly declaring, ‘You would be sad if your team gets as clearly dominated by opponents who have been built on 10 per cent of the budget.’ It was a confident and brave statement from the Porto boss, considering that the tie was only halfway through.

Ronaldo still felt sure that United could fight back at Old Trafford, willed on by a raucous home crowd. It was sure to be an intimidating atmosphere for the Porto players to endure. The first leg had not gone to plan for Cristiano, but the team was still well placed.

In the Premiership, a 1-1 draw away to Fulham was followed by a 2-1 FA Cup victory over the same opposition. A van Nistelrooy double was enough to clinch a place in the next round. Cristiano hit the crossbar with a free-kick and lit up the match several times with his trickery. After sitting out of the majority of the first leg against Porto, Ronaldo was doing his best to persuade Ferguson to give him the chance to start in the return match.

When Porto came to Old Trafford for the second leg on March 9, United still seemed a good bet to overturn the first-leg scoreline. A large crowd and a passionate performance was called for. The Reds appeared to be cruising into the quarter-finals, leading 1-0 through Paul Scholes and handling the visitors with some ease. Ronaldo was frustrated only to be on the substitutes bench but willed on his colleagues. It certainly seemed an odd decision to prefer the more defensive-minded Darren Fletcher on the right flank when the team needed to score goals to get back in the tie.

Ferguson introduced Ronaldo to the action in the 75th minute, with United still 1-0 ahead and set to go through to the quarter-finals on away goals. But his role in the action ended early as he left the field on a stretcher just nine minutes later, following a challenge from Dmitri Alenitchev. The foul had obviously been a lot more painful that it had first appeared. Sadly for Cristiano, his evening got considerably worse as he could only watch on from the sidelines. United were made to pay a heavy price for not taking their chances when goalkeeper Tim Howard fumbled a Benni McCarthy free-kick late in the game, and defensive midfielder Costinha slammed in an equaliser that put Porto through to the next round. Old Trafford fell silent in shock and dismay.

It was the most devastating moment of Cristiano’s first season in English football, and it was delivered by a team from his native Portugal. Having left Portugal to further his career, Cristiano now faced the embarrassment of being eliminated by a Portuguese club side. It was an unhappy time at Old Trafford, and Ronaldo would have to wait to sample the latter stages of a European competition. The team was having no difficulties finding the net, but the defence was proving very leaky, creating a feeling of vulnerability throughout the team. For so much of the match he had felt that United would reach the quarter-finals, but there was a sting in the tail. Ronaldo rued the assistant referee’s incorrect decision to disallow a second goal from Scholes that ought to have sealed the tie. Ferguson was stunned, ‘You get shocked in life and I suppose you couldn’t see that one coming. Porto had a lot of possession of the ball but I felt that we were in complete control.’

The season had only reached March, but Ronaldo and United were now realistically out of contention in the Premiership and had been eliminated from the Champions League. It was a bizarre feeling, especially after the stylish end to the previous season. There was no choice now for Cristiano but to focus on reducing Arsenal’s lead at the summit of the Premiership table and ensuring a respectable finish. The club’s pride needed to be restored, and the fans required something to cheer about.

In March, Ronaldo turned his attention away from football temporarily to promote his home island of Madeira. He was a special guest when tourism chiefs arrived in Manchester and, with his celebrity status, he hoped to be able to increase the number of British visitors to the island. Having won the European Region of the Year in 2004, the island seemed to be becoming a very popular destination for tourists. As a proud product of Madeira, Ronaldo was naturally happy to offer his support to the cause.

Inconsistency marred the remainder of the Premiership season, but every day was a valuable chance to learn for the Portuguese star. He would be a stronger player as a result of his experiences in his first season and, after all, it was still such an early stage of his career. His third Manchester derby of the season was instantly forgettable, as the team crashed to a 4-1 loss at the City of Manchester Stadium in one of Sir Alex’s most humiliating afternoons as United manager. The result reflected the hangover from the European nightmare and the greater passion that City had shown. Ronaldo, though, was quick to bounce back, as he scored United’s second in a 3-0 win over Tottenham on March 20, coming off the bench for the final 15 minutes. His run, starting in his own half, ended with a powerful strike that flew into the net, via the post. Sadly, these glimpses of good United form were all too brief during the campaign, though it was pleasing to see Ryan Giggs back to his splendid best as he tormented the Tottenham defence.

Ferguson worked hard to get his players back on track and he wrote defiantly in his programme notes, dismissing the criticism his team had faced, ‘There are people dancing on what they perceive to be our grave but I am not cracking up and neither am I feeling the pressure. People cast around for reasons for our setbacks, which range from my supposed preoccupation with a racehorse to my transfer signings. We will come out of this and we look to our supporters to stand firm and help us through a rough ride.’

Back-to-back fixtures against Arsenal gave United the opportunity to address some of the season’s frustrations. The Gunners had shown the type of consistency that Ronaldo and his team-mates had been lacking, but this was United’s chance to hit back. Cristiano had been in the thick of the action in the 0-0 draw earlier in the season, which was remembered for all the wrong reasons. He insisted, though, that the quarrels were in the past, ‘I was a little surprised by what I saw but it is water under the bridge now. Arsenal are a strong team, they have got some good players, so I am sure it is going to be an interesting battle.’ With the Gunners still unbeaten in the league, United had the opportunity to end that run, but Arsenal would be determined not to throw it away, especially against Ronaldo and co.

The first match on 28 March, in the Premiership, was a relatively dull affair and United required a late Louis Saha goal to come away with a point. However, the teams had appeared well-matched, suggesting that the upcoming FA Cup semi-final would be a tight contest. For United, the FA Cup was the sole remaining target and, as Gary Neville pointed out before the game, this was the most important match of the team’s campaign. Neville was adamant when he wrote in his column in The Times, ‘There is no point trying to play down the importance [of this game] for United. It is the most important match of our season. It is our season.’

The players responded with a display full of passion and belief, determinedly repelling Arsenal attacks. Arsène Wenger had surprisingly elected to leave talisman Thierry Henry on the bench for this game and United took advantage, going ahead after 32 minutes, through Paul Scholes. From then onwards, United’s desire not to end the season empty-handed carried them to victory, and some of the resilience that had been missing in the Premiership returned to the side. They defended manfully and by the time Wenger introduced Henry, United were comfortable. 1-0 proved to be enough, and United advanced to face Millwall in the final. For Ronaldo it would be his first showpiece final and the chance to win some silverware in his first season at United.

Boosted by reaching the final, Cristiano came off the bench away to Birmingham in the league and turned the match in United’s favour. Trailing to a Martin Grainger goal, Ronaldo sparked his team into life as he headed home Giggs’ cross to equalise. Giggs then crafted a chance for Saha, who sealed the three points. The energy that Ronaldo had brought to the side had been crucial, and Birmingham’s weary legs had no answer. Frustratingly, United seemed to have waited until the title had slipped away before producing their best displays.

On 13 April, Ronaldo collected his first Sky Sports Man of the Match award in the 1-0 home win over Leicester. He terrorised the Foxes’ defenders, forced good saves from goalkeeper Ian Walker, and it was his shot that deflected into the path of unlikely goalscorer Gary Neville. Ronaldo, still only 18, struggled with the language during the post-match interview but Neville was there, just like earlier on the pitch, to pick up the pieces. ‘He’s very confident. He’s only 18 years of age and to come to a foreign country and adapt the way he has, it’s been incredible and he’s a very good player,’ Neville enthused.

The interview showed that Ronaldo had settled well in the dressing room and was certainly a popular member of the squad. He laughed and joked with Neville and was clearly enjoying life at Old Trafford. It was a rare sighting of Ronaldo in front of the camera during his opening season at United – he would be more and more in demand as the years rolled on and his grasp of the language improved markedly.

It had not been the fairytale start that Ronaldo might have imagined, but he had cemented a place in the team and would now have the chance to cap it all with an FA Cup winners’ medal. The remainder of the season was fairly uneventful as United went through the motions in the league with the FA Cup final in all the players’ minds. Back home in Madeira, the excitement was growing as everyone looked forward to seeing Cristiano play in such a major final. The closing weeks summed up the whole season as United moved from victory to defeat on a weekly basis, including a painful 1-0 loss at home to Liverpool on 24 April. The fans were far from happy about surrendering points at Old Trafford against their fierce rivals, but the energy had gone from United’s play. Minds had started to wander towards the end of the campaign.

An international friendly offered a welcome change of scene for Ronaldo, as Portugal drew 2-2 with Sweden on 28 April. Once again, Ronaldo only played a part of the game – but this is often the way with friendly matches. He came off the bench after 63 minutes and gave further evidence of his potential. A draw with Sweden was a solid result as the Swedes were expected to have a decent run in the competition. With Euro 2004 nearing, Ronaldo was determined to secure his place in the squad and make his family proud. The little boy from Funchal had come a long way.

It seemed likely that Sir Alex Ferguson had instructed Scolari not to play Ronaldo for full games in friendlies, especially considering that he was still so young. Earlier in the year, against Italy at the end of March, Ronaldo had again played only a part of the game. Italy had won 2-1 and, while it was a valuable lesson to witness the quality of the Italian defenders up close, Portugal would doubtless have preferred to use Cristiano for the full 90 minutes.

Back with United, the team continued to limp towards the finishing line. When Ronaldo and his team-mates succumbed to a 1-0 defeat away to Blackburn on 1 May, the team had lost three of their last four Premiership matches, failing to score in any of the defeats. A 2-0 win over Aston Villa at Villa Park on the final day of the league season meant that the players had at least ended on a high. Ronaldo was amongst the goals, opening the scoring with a fine curling shot that beat Thomas Sorensen at the near post. Van Nistelrooy doubled the advantage six minutes later and Villa never recovered, their UEFA Cup hopes dashed.

With the clock running down and United already down to 10 men after Darren Fletcher’s dismissal, it seemed that the match would just peter out. But nobody told Ronaldo. Having been booked for diving earlier in the game, he then kicked the ball away in frustration with five minutes remaining to collect a totally unnecessary red card. He had been the star of the show, but now he had ended his first league campaign in England on a bitter note. Ferguson was not amused, but seemed to blame the referee rather than his players. He told the press, ‘You can’t even comment on those decisions – it’s bizarre. But the seriousness of it is that those players will miss the first game of next season which is disappointing. Otherwise, I think our performance was very good. That was our best performance since our away win at Everton in February.’

But by now all eyes had turned to the final and, although Millwall were vastly inferior opponents, everyone was wary of the scope for the competition’s biggest ever upset. Dennis Wise, the Millwall manager, had done an excellent job and his players knew that they had nothing to lose. The Lions were quoted as 8-1 outsiders by the bookmakers. Even though United were expected to win, it would be a tricky game. To put it into context, even the experienced Ryan Giggs admitted that he was feeling nervous on the eve of the match. Unsurprisingly, Cristiano was overwhelmed with a combination of anxiety and excitement as he prepared for the game.

The final, played in front of 71,350 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, belonged to Ronaldo. It was undoubtedly his finest performance of the season, and he had produced it on the biggest stage. Some experts even likened it to the great Sir Stanley Matthews’ display for Blackpool in the 1953 FA Cup final – perhaps the 2004 final would be dubbed the ‘Ronaldo final’. It quickly became clear that, for all Millwall’s efforts, there was a gulf in class between the two sides, yet United struggled to make it count. It was Ronaldo himself who eventually opened the scoring just before half-time, heading home from Gary Neville’s cross. Ruud van Nistelrooy grabbed the other two goals – one from the penalty spot – but it was the Portuguese winger who was at the heart of all of United’s best moves. Incredibly, Cristiano was not awarded the man of the match trophy, as Sven-Goran Eriksson chose van Nistelrooy for that honour. The Dutchman, like everyone else, could scarcely believe that Ronaldo had not been rewarded for his performance. The critics suggested that it summed up Eriksson’s powers of judgement.

All the talk after the game centred around Ronaldo. In front of millions of viewers worldwide, he had delivered a match-winning display, worthy of gracing any game. Ferguson was delighted, ‘Ronaldo was outstanding. We need to look after him in the right way because he is going to be an outstanding footballer.’ For Ferguson, it was also a relief that one of his young signings had played so spectacularly; Sir Alex had received plenty of criticism for the fact that a couple of his other signings had flopped in the fast pace of English football.

Gary Neville echoed his manager’s sentiments, ‘To come with the price tag on his head and at his age, he has been outstanding for us this season.’ His family watched the match with immense pride and his father, Dinis, was overjoyed with Cristiano’s achievements. One of Madeira’s home grown youngsters had gone to England and won the FA Cup. Word soon spread around the island as Ronaldo’s relatives celebrated his success.

As he stepped up to receive his medal, it was a tremendously proud moment. The whole squad wore shirts with ‘Davis 32’ on the back in memory of Jimmy Davis, the United youngster who had died tragically in a car accident. It was a moving act and made the success more special because it was dedicated to Davis. The idea for the shirts came from Roy Keane, while Gary Neville spoke for everyone at the club when he said, ‘We still think about him [Davis] and we mention him regularly. Hopefully, what we did today will make Jimmy’s parents smile for a moment.’

The Premiership had been the main aim, but the United players were visibly delighted to lift the FA Cup. Ronaldo basked in the glory of his starring role and savoured the compliments of his manager, his team-mates and the pundits, although Alan Hansen still maintained that he would rather play against Ronaldo than in the same team as him. It was impossible not to think about Ronaldo’s promising future. The only concern was that the positive words might go to his head. As James Lawton observed in the Independent, Cristiano had to be careful not to listen too carefully to the praise of others. Lawton felt that there was still plenty of vanity in the winger’s game and that he ought to look more closely at the manner in which Ryan Giggs has acted throughout his lengthy career at Old Trafford. The fact that Ronaldo had dazzled Millwall, not AC Milan or Real Madrid, was a valid point and was a warning against getting carried away by the hype.

It had been a season full of ups and downs for Cristiano, but he had ended it on a high. He had gained experience and maturity in abundance and would look to continue his improvements when the new campaign began. In the meantime, he was focusing on Euro 2004.