Real Madrid's Raul: Cristiano Ronaldo Is A True Leader

'El Capitan' heralds Cristiano Ronaldo as the ultimate professional.


Real Madrid veteran Raul has heaped praise on Cristiano Ronaldo for his attitude and professionalism.

"It would be boring if everyone were equal,” Raul said, according to AS.

“He is one of the best professionals I've seen. He’s a winner, someone who does not want to miss a game. He says what he thinks, but he also has a mindset that is focused on the collective.”

Ronaldo has enjoyed a fantastic first season in La Liga since his world-record breaking €94 million move from Manchester United last summer and smashed in a hat-trick last night as Real Madrid beat Mallorca 4-1 to keep the pressure on Barcelona at the top of La Liga.

Raul went on to reveal how impressed he has been with the former FIFA World Player of the Year’s professionalism and heralded him as a leader.

“He is the first to arrive and the last leave training. I see him and say to myself, ‘I have to train harder'. He’s a wonderful guy, a total leader.”

Real Madrid Star Cristiano Ronaldo Could Be Set To Change Clubs Again

Portuguese moved to Spain from United this past summer...

Real Madrid winger Cristiano Ronaldo has hinted that he is planning a future away from the Bernabeu.

Ronaldo, who moved to Madrid from Manchester United for a world-record transfer fee of 80 million pounds last summer, insists he will not spend the rest of his career with the club.

“Football is all about cycles. I believe that you are in teams for cycles. I spent several years wanting to play in Madrid, but I don’t see myself here at 40,” The Daily Express quoted Ronaldo, as saying.

His comment surprisingly comes weeks after Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said that Ronaldo could make a sensational return to Old Trafford.

Talking about his decision to leave United, Ronaldo said: “Alex Ferguson understood my decision. I continue to talk to him.”

The 25-year-old also expressed disappointment over the prospect of ending the season without any silverware.

“It would be a bad year if we don’t win the league because a club like this has to always win something every year,” Ronaldo said.

“Not winning this year wouldn’t be a failure, but it would be a lost year. But I am confident we can win the league,” he added.

Cristiano Ronaldo Thinks Real Madrid Must Win La Liga

Florentino Perez spent around $ 300 Million last summer to reshuffle his Real Madrid team. Cristiano Ronaldo was acquired for a world record transfer fee with Kaka’s signing also making the headlines.

But as money doesn’t buy success overnight, this season’s has proven to be a difficult one for Los Blancos who are trying to restore the pride the lost since 2008 to Barcelona’s shining star. Real Madrid’s Copa del Rey and Champions League dreams are dead.

La Liga remains their sole hope and Cristiano Ronaldo insists that Real Madrid cannot afford to end the season without a trophy. He expressed his opinion, stating:

“It would be a bad year if we don’t win La Liga because a club like this always has to win something every year.”

“It won’t be a failure if we don’t win anything this year, but it would be a lost year. Anyways, I am confident we can win the league.”

Just imagine the mockeries from anti-Real Madrid fans should Florentino Perez’s $ 300 Million squad end up with no silverware at all.

Cristiano Ronaldo guides Real Madrid to La Liga summit

Cristiano Ronaldo pointed the way to the top of the table as Real Madrid staged an enthralling three-goal fightback to beat Sevilla and overhaul Barcelona in front of an ecstatic 80,000 full house at the Bernabeu stadium.


"The Madrid side were able to play the kind of electric football they are capable of," admitted an admiring Sevilla coach Manolo Jimenez afterwards. "They have incredible power and speed."

Ronaldo triggered the power surge with his intervention on the hour mark, with Real trailing to Xabi Alonso's own goal and a 25-yard free-kick from Ivica Dragutinovic.


Real's summer £80 million signing from Manchester United, full of flicks, tricks and treats all night, steered home his 20th goal of the season from 10 yards. Sergio Ramos headed Real level four minutes later and both Guti and Rafael van der Vaart clipped the Sevilla woodwork as the home side pressed for the winner.

It finally came in the 91st minute, substitute Rafael van der Vaart, scrambling home from close range. It edged Real ahead of leaders Barcelona, who were held to a 2-2 draw at Almeria earlier in the evening, on a superior goal difference of two.

Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini, whose in-form side have struck 25 goals in their last seven league matches, said: "We were a great Real Madrid side tonight. It was a great psychological victory, it is important to be leaders."

A huge Madridista roar greeted the news that Barcelona, who had striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, had dropped points at modest Almeria but Sevilla, quick and confident on the break, came close to spoiling Real's 108th anniversary party.

Former Liverpool mainspring Alonso, under pressure from Alvaro Negredo, turned the ball past Iker Casillas in the 10th minute, and the Real goalkeepeer was badly at fault when he misjudged the trajectory of the bounce from Dragutinovic's long-range free-kick eight minutes into the second half.

Real, however, have not lost at home this season, and the confidence that had brought six successive La Liga wins was prominent as Ronaldo orchestrated increasing Madrid domination.

"We played as a team and everything worked well," Alonso said. "We are moving in the right direction."

Next destination for Alonso and his Real team-mates is Europe, where they must overturn a 1-0 Champions League round of 16 first-deficit against Lyon at the Bernabeu on Wednesday.

Cristiano Ronaldo Press Conference

"Those who are ambitious must always believe they are the favourites to win"

Cristiano Ronaldo talked to the media two days before his first match against

Barcelona as a Real Madrid player.

Do you feel ready to be a starter at Camp Nou?
I think it's normal for me not to be in optimum form right now. I just want to help the

team.

What have you been told of last season's Clasico at the Bernabeu?
I don't like to talk about the past. I don't care what happened because I wasn't there.

I'm concerned about the present. I hope we can defeat Barcelona.

Pellegrini's opening speech today was longer than usual.
That's because he said everything outdoors today. He usually talks to us inside too.

It has nothing to do with the fact that we're about to face Barcelona.

Does the leadership make you favourites to win the match?
I always think there are no favourites. Those who are ambitious must always believe

they are the favourites to win. We have great respect for our opponent, but we

shouldn't be afraid of them. They are a great team, but I don't believe either of us is

the favourite to win.

Do you think the team depends on you?
We are leaders in the two most important competitions, so I don't think the team

depends on me at all. We are doing well and scoring goals. I'd like to help.

Does the fact that the crowd will be against you motivate you even more?
I'm used to that. It was the case for me at every English stadium after Portugal

eliminated England from the 2006 World Cup, but I nevertheless ended up

becoming the best player in the Premiership. I'm just concerened about playing well

on Sunday and about helping the team. I think we can win with or without me.

Are you anxious to play a game like the Clasico?
I'm always anxious; it has nothing to do with the fact that we'll play against

Barcelona. I am ambitious. Every player wants to take part in a Clasico.

What do Real Madrid need to do to win?
We'll have to play well and score more goals than Barcelona.

What do you regard as playing well?
We shouldn't be scared of playing against Barcelona. We'll have to play as we

always do. Barcelona won't attack us in the same way they attack their other

opponents and they will also defend themselves more. I want us to play well, to

keep possession and to have chances on goal.

Would you like Messi to play?
Great footballers should always play if they can. I don't know if he's going to play,

but Barcelona didn't use Messi and Ibrahimovic the other day and they nevertheless

performed very well. The team has a good system in which every footballer plays

well. Messi has unusual quality, but every man on that squad is very good. It will be

a difficult match with or without Messi.

What do you think of your personal fight to be the best player in the world?
I'm not worried about that. I just want to win.

Do you enjoy Real Madrid's style?
I do. I'm relaxed after we win and I sleep very well. The important thing is to win and

it's even better when we do so by playing well.

Why does everyone say Barcelona play better?
Because they do, but can't be doing that badly when you look at the run we are

having.
How many goals would you like to score on Sunday?
Ten, twenty... I don't know if it will be possible though.

Is the match similar to a Manchester United-Liverpool clash?
Classic encounters are similar in every country because fans love them. They are

always special. People have the same passion for them.

How will you prepare for the match?
I always do the same regardless of the opponent. It will be a special encounter

because we'll have the chance of distancing ourselves further from them on the

table. It will be difficult, but we'll try to win.

Your team went through some dire straits while you were injured...
You can't win anything without experiencing difficulties. You have to work hard in

life in order to achieve something and that is just what we are doing. Our style isn't

brilliant, but we are earning the results we want. We are leaders in La Liga and in

the Champions League. We will improve. We must be humble and realise we can

always do better.

Do you feel like you've got unfinished business with Barcelona for losing against

them in the Champions League final?
I've only got unfinished business regarding bills from the water and electric

companies... Barcelona play well, but what happened then is now in the past. I'm at

a new club now and we have a winning mentality.

Doesn't a winner like yourself ever think about the past?
It happened a long time ago. I have to think about the present and the future. The

past is useful to learrn from, but we must always look ahead. We will try to do our

best and win. I have no unfinished business with Barcelona.

Is the squad determined to show the world you can play better than Barcelona?
This isn't a Champions League final. It is a regular game worth three points against

a good opponent. What if we win on Sunday and lose our next clash? Victory would

be pointless then. We have to be regular. It will be hard, I know, and we will face a

strong opponent too.

Do you connect well with Benzema?
Very well, but I don't know if I'm going to play yet. I connect well with everyone; Raul,

Benzema, Higuain...

The crowd slightly whistled and booed at the team on Wednesday...
It had nothing to do with our performance. We were winning. I'm sure we'll improve.

Whom would you rather sign from Barcelona, Xavi, Iniesta, Messi...
None, but they are all very good.

Real Madrid Star Cristiano Ronaldo Not 100 Per Cent Fit For Barcelona Tie

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo is not 100 per cent fit and will play against

Barcelona in El Clasico at Camp Nou on Sunday still suffering pain in the right

ankle that kept him out of action for eight weeks, according to Sport.

It is suggested that although Ronaldo's return to action in the UEFA Champions

League win over Zurich was a successful one the reality is somewhat different. The

player spent a long time warming up on the sideline and in the 24 minutes he did

play he rarely featured as an attacking force anything like what he was before the

injury.

Ronaldo admitted to being tired after the game and coach Manuel Pellegrini is

understood to be aware that the 24-year-old is still experiencing discomfort in the

ankle so if Ronaldo does play it is likely he will be less than his best, which will suit

Barca greatly.

If Pellegrini were to take the decision not to play Ronaldo in this game the pressure

on him is set to intensify. Demands are such at Real Madrid that their prize asset

must be included in the starting lineup for El Clasico and Los Merengues could be

playing with fire as any relapse for Ronaldo could see the winger on the sidelines

once again or possibly even requiring surgery.

Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo was born and raised in a working class neighborhood on the

Portuguese island of Madeira. He officially began playing football in 2003 for Clube

Futebol Andorinha de Santo Antonio. By the age of ten, the islands more prominent

teams began expressing interest in the phenom. Ronaldo joined Nacional da Ilha

da Madeira, where he continued his meteoric rise and one year later was on the

move to Lisbon, where he signed for Sporting in 2001. He is still the only player in

club history to be promoted by four academy teams until debuting with the first team

in one season. Ronaldo scored a brace in his first match against Deportivo

Moreirense and went on to win the Superliga that same year as a mainstay One

season later he made his European debut in a Champions League qualifier against

Inter.

The turning point of his career was a brilliant performance during a friendly against

Manchester United in 2001. Ferguson later admitted that his players couldn’t stop

talking about Ronaldo. Even on the flight back to England, players of the likes of

Roy Keane and Van Nistelrooy insisted that the manager sign Cristiano. The official

announcement was made one week later after ManU paid £12.24 million for his

services; a record transfer fee for an adolescent.

Ronaldo proved his quality during his first year in England in the 2004 FA Cup final;

he scored the first of his team’s three goals, which eventually gave them the trophy.

He became one of the best young players in the world during his second campaign

in England and earned FIFPro’s Special Young Player of the Year award. He

entered Manchester United history on 29 October 2005 by scoring the team’s

1,000nd goal in the Premier League. Ronaldo netted 17 strikes the following year,

becoming the second top-scorer in the Premiership. He also made the

championship’s 2006/07 Team of the Year alongside six other ManU players.

Cristiano Ronaldo perfected his quality in the following years and also managed to

stand out for his intelligence and great physique. He became the top-scoring right

winger in Manchester United’s history in March 2008, breaking legendary George

Best’s 32-goal record of the 1967/68 campaign. This was the first of a series of

achievements, which also included winning the Community Shield, the Premiership

title and the Champions League trophy. On a personal level, he won the Ballon

d’Or, the Golden Boot, the FIFA World Player award, the FIFPro award, the UEFA

Club Forward of the Year distinction, and became the top-scorer of the Champions

League.

At just 24, Ronaldo is the second captain on the Portuguese national team behind

Nuno Gomes. He made his international debut on 20 August 2003 against

Kazakhstan and represented his country in the 2004 Olympic Games of Athens.

Scolrai didn’t count on him much at the start of the Euro 2004, despite the insistence

of fans and journalists, but he eventually became a prominent player on the team,

which lost the final 1-0 against Greece. Ronaldo played at a very high level in the

2006 Germany World Cup, but the team lost against France in the semis and

against Germany in the fight for third place. Portugal lost against Germany again in

the quarterfinals of the Euro 2008.

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS 2008-09

Ronny proud on 'special day'
Cristiano Ronaldo beamed with pride as he reflected on clinching the third Premier League title of his United career.

The Portuguese winger, United's top scorer for a third successive season, revelled in the post-match celebrations after the Reds' draw with Arsenal had given the reigning champions an unassailable lead at the head of the table.

"It's unbelievable, it's a special day," Ronaldo told MUTV. "We've won the league again and now we get to celebrate with our families. I'm enjoying it a lot. It's a fantastic achievement. It's not easy to win three times, the lads worked for that and it's a special, special moment. We have to enjoy the moment."

The Reds' triumph secured an 18th league title, equalling the longstanding record of Liverpool, but Ronaldo admits United need only concentrate on winning more silverware.

"We don't need to care about other teams," he said. "It's always good to be on the top, and we are in a good moment. We've won a few things and this club needs to carry on. It doesn't matter which players are here or which coach is here, the mentality of this club is always to win. I'm looking forward, and proud to be in the history of this team."

With one half of last season's Double now safely retained, United's attentions will now switch to overcoming Barcelona in the Champions League final. Should the Reds reign in Rome, Ronaldo believes this campaign can be held in the fondest regard, admitting: "If we win that then it's an unbelievable year."

Cristiano Ronaldo:FIFA player of the year

Cristiano Ronaldo Bio..

Ronaldo in ManU jersey


Ronaldo in Portugal jersey


Cristiano Ronaldo was born on the 5th of February, 1985 in Madeira, Portugal as Cristiano Ronaldo DOS Santos Aveiro. He has become one of the best football players in the world.

Cristiano Ronaldo was discovered in his teen years when he was playing for the Portuguese team Sporting Lisbon. Since the year 2003, when the Sporting Lisbon beat Manchester United, the Manchester United leaders signed the contract with Ronaldo and he is now a football player for Manchester United football team in England.

Cristiano Ronaldo in his short football player career has gained an astonishing recognition and achievements.

His player number is number 7 and Cristiano Ronaldo has played for Portugal very successfully at the Olympic Games in the year 2004, where he scored 10 goals in 24 games for Portugal.

Additional to his football career Cristiano Ronaldo has been involved in various charitable organizations (including giving financially to Indonesian tsunami victims and by visiting the global poor places in Africa, Indonesia and other regions). He is also involved in modeling.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo has just about exhausted all superlatives, except to say that having developed and matured from a young and inexperienced winger when he joined from Sporting Lisbon in 2003, he's now among the best and most dynamic attacking forces in the world.

Signed as a largely unknown 18-year-old for £12.24m, the story goes that Sir Alex was persuaded to sign him by his players on the plane home from a pre-season friendly against Sporting that summer. In truth, the boss had long been aware of his ability. The urgency to sign him stemmed from interest from other top European clubs. This was a target Sir Alex simply
couldn’t let slip through the net.

Ronaldo wasted little time in showing off his sublime skills with a stunning 30-minute debut against Bolton at Old Trafford in August 2003. After 39 appearances and eight goals – including the opener in the FA Cup final win over Millwall – he was named the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year for 2003/04. His second season never quite lived up to his first. But some late season form saw him end the 2004/05 campaign with nine goals in 50 appearances. In 2005/06 Ronny again reserved his best form for the latter half of the season. Then came the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany, a truly defining moment. In the quarter finals against England, Cristiano was blamed for Wayne Rooney’s sending off, the scapegoat for England’s exit. Some wondered if he would even return to Manchester. But Sir Alex’s calming words assured him. After all, it’d happened before with Eric Cantona in 1995 and David Beckham in 1998. The best players respond to adversity, and he did just that.

United’s title success in 2006/2007 was undoubtedly a team effort, but one player was central to almost every major plotline. It began with the barnstorming 5-1 win over Fulham – Ronaldo and Rooney running the show and very publicly rubbishing claims the two were at odds. Dazzling wing-play was backed with regular assists and crucial goals, including seven in five games over Christmas.

His form in the 2006/2007 season brought Ronaldo 14 individual awards and, despite interest from other clubs, he extended his contract until 2012. The winger's performances also earned him third place in the 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year. Ronaldo somehow continues to improve and in 2007/2008, he scored his first United hat-trick and his 50th league goal for the club in a 6-0 romp over Newcastle on the way to netting a staggering 42 goals.