Tom Oldfield - Cristiano Ronaldo: The True Story of the Greatest Footballer on Earth

CRISTIANO RONALDO DOES not do things in half measures.

Through all the star-studded displays for Manchester United, there was always the sense that his exit would be equally emphatic and high-profile. For all his mind-boggling free-kicks and vital goals, the promised land of Real Madrid appeared to be his destiny. And so it proved when Real smashed the world transfer record to make him their 80million man, bringing down the curtain on Ronaldos rollercoaster United career.

Few players have made the footballing journey that Cristiano has taken in his career to date. He has needed every ounce of character, resilience and bravery to accompany his undoubted ball skills and now, still just 24, he stands at the summit of the world game, ready to take Real back to the big time.

But he will not be forgotten at Old Trafford, nor will the memories of his United career ever leave him. It was a phenomenal spell. His six seasons in Manchester certainly flew by, yet he collected a complete set of domestic medals an achievement that took even the great Ryan Giggs more than a decade to accomplish and topped that off with success on the European stage.

Perhaps the most important part of Cristianos United legacy will be the way he revived the goal-scoring winger tag. Time after time he has been the difference-maker for club and country and netting 42 goals in the 2007/08 season was simply staggering. It is a statistic that will surely never be equalled by a midfield player.

From the start of the 2006/07 campaign through to his final United appearance in the Champions League final in Rome, Ronaldos value soared both on and off the field. He became the go-to guy not only for Ferguson but for Luiz Felipe Scolari at international level too. Real Madrid monitored his progress all the way and finally got their man. How much further Cristiano can raise the bar remains to be seen but it is scary to think that he may not reach his peak for another few years.

Over the years, much has been made about his attitude. However, to succeed at the highest level, supreme confidence is a necessity and Ronaldo simply believes whole-heartedly in his own ability. Carrying the hopes of United and Portugal on his shoulders has been no easy task but it has at least prepared him for the huge expectations he will encounter at the Bernabeu. He loves the pressure and will no doubt thrive on it, playing alongside the likes of Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos and, of course, fellow new face Kaka.

Cristiano may be reaping the benefits of his fame and success now but that should not disguise the fact that there have been some tough, painful times along the way.

He has worked incredibly hard to reach the top level in Europe. He has played in three very different cities, with two different languages and two different styles of play and now he will experience a fourth city. He has not lived at home in Madeira since the age of 12 and has thrown everything into his football education, taking on all challenges alone. The experience during his time at Sporting Lisbon developed Cristianos character and prepared him to tackle any obstacle in his life. The main asset that Ronaldo had in his favour was that he was born with the ability to play football. Some players go through their academy days and apprenticeships having to give every ounce of sweat just to keep up with the other players but Ronaldo was special. He worked hard, of course, but the dribbling, ball skills and fancy footwork came naturally to him. Technically, he had a God-given talent and the quality to entertain crowds.

While he did not sample the kind of youth team experience that the likes of David Beckham, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes enjoyed, he quietly got on with his job in difficult circumstances and his progress was exceptional. Family problems troubled him and made it hard to settle in Lisbon, but his inner drive carried Ronaldo into the Sporting first team, where he caught the eye of scouts in the space of just one season. He was clearly destined to play at the highest level.

His move to Manchester United was the making of Cristiano. Sir Alex Fergusons watchful eye and knowledge of dealing with young footballers enabled Ronaldo to blossom into the attacking threat that so many had predicted he would become. It was a gradual process. Every season at Old Trafford, Ronaldo would show indications of improvement and a greater understanding of his team-mates styles of play. He was as happy as anyone when United won two trophies in his first three seasons, but he had set his sights on the top prizes that had thus far evaded him.

He liked to keep a low profile away from the football pitch and Ferguson rarely had to worry about his young stars behaviour. But the 2006 World Cup shattered any hopes Cristiano had of remaining out of the headlines. Despite a brilliant tournament, his role in Wayne Rooneys red card in the PortugalEngland quarter-final made him public enemy number one. It was the make-or-break moment of Ronaldos short career. He could either wilt under the spotlight or use it to fuel his determination for success.

Luckily for United, he chose the latter option after persuasion from Sir Alex, who had travelled to Madeira to discuss his future. From being one of a galaxy of stars, the departures of Roy Keane and Ruud van Nistelrooy pushed Ronaldo to the forefront. He was now the man to whom United turned for inspiration in times of crisis and he rarely let his team-mates down. Ferguson had called for more goals from his winger and Ronaldo responded by hammering in an amazing 23 during a remarkable season that put him amongst the best in Europe.

His effort levels and creative flair made him a crowd favourite at Old Trafford and he truly continued the wonderful tradition of the United number 7 shirt. Against the odds, he turned the feeling of a nation from loathing to admiration in the space of 12 months. The same man who was vilified after the World Cup was even being tipped by neutrals as their player of the year. His fellow professionals agreed as he scooped the PFA Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year double to cap an incredible campaign.

He even eclipsed those efforts by helping United land a Premiership and Champions League double in 2007/08. Again, he dominated the end of season awards, and deservedly so.

Then, in what proved to be his last campaign in the red of United, Cristiano helped his team-mates land a third straight title. The season was littered with more special Ronaldo moments but there was no perfect ending as the Red Devils came up short against Barcelona in the Champions League final.

And, as Real pounced to snare their man, the news that many United fans had feared became public knowledge. Ronaldo was off to tackle a new challenge but he had left his mark on English football and would live long in the memory.