Cristiano Ronaldo was back in Madrid this week as the city’s fans made their affection for him clear after nearly a decade of success at Real Madrid, where he left in 2018
Cristiano Ronaldo has been swamped by fans in Madrid, where he enjoys legendary status after his time in the Spanish capital.
The Portuguese star was in the city driving his Bugatti Centodiece – of which there are only ten in the entire world and are worth £6.9m. Ronaldo was the seventh to receive one, but couldn’t unleash the vehicle’s power as he was mobbed by supporters whilst driving it publicly for the first time.
Ronaldo left Madrid in 2018 when he opted for a change as he swapped Los Blancos for Italian side Juventus, shortly after winning his fifth and final Champions League crown. The forward made a then world-record move to the Spanish side from Manchester United in 2009 and went on to become the club’s record goalscorer.
Whilst at the Bernabeu the 38-year-old scored 450 times in 438 outings, winning four Ballon d’Ors whilst he donned the famous white jersey. He continued to deliver under the likes of Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane, but eventually opted for pastures new.
Ronaldo now finds himself in the Middle East having moved to Saudi Arabia after his sudden exit from Manchester. The legendary figure maintains his time in Europe was done and he wanted to grow the game elsewhere, but he’d clearly be welcomed back in Madrid.
Since his departure they’ve endured mixed fortunes, initially struggling when he first left. Now they’re again close to their best with Ancelotti again at the helm, winning the European Cup last year. Karim Benzema has thrived since Ronaldo’s exit, claiming the most recent Ballon d’Or.
Cristiano Ronaldo was mobbed by fans in Madrid ( Image: Instagram)
The forward remains an icon at the Bernabeu
Vinicius Jnr has also morphed into a leading light, but the club remain on the lookout for their next Galactico. Kylian Mbappe is expected to one day move to Madrid, although PSG are desperate to retain his services.
Ronaldo, at his age, is unlikely to get another shot at a leading European club, despite his desire to play into his 40s. The player cited the decline in his relationship with Los Blancos president Florentino Perez as the reason behind his Madrid departure, claiming he was no longer valued like he once was.
He said: “I felt it inside the club, especially from the president, that they no longer considered me the same way that they did in the start. In the first four or five years there I had the feeling of being ‘Cristiano Ronaldo’. Less afterwards. The president looked at me through eyes that didn’t want to say the same thing, as if I was no longer indispensable to them, if you know what I mean.”
