Footage of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Real Madrid debut shows how much he’s changed

July 2009 was a significant month in the history of Real Madrid.

It was the month they smashed the world transfer record on a superstar who’d go on to become one of the club’s greatest ever players.

It was Cristiano Ronaldo’s dream to pull on the famous white shirt of Madrid - and on July 20 he finally got that opportunity, making his debut against the Irish side Shamrock Rovers at the Tallaght Stadium.

Ronaldo started the match and played the first 45 minutes but failed to get himself on the scoresheet.

Video: Ronaldo's debut v Shamrock Rovers

Footage of the former Manchester United star’s Madrid debut is available to watch on YouTube and it shows just how much he’s improved as a player during his time with Los Blancos.

Watch it here...

He was desperate to impress

Although Ronaldo was the reigning Ballon d’Or holder when he joined Madrid - thanks to his role in United’s 2008 Champions League triumph - he was still very much focused on pulling off fancy tricks and flicks during matches which were often completely unnecessary.

He was so eager to impress on his debut that he was attempting skills at every available opportunity.

Strange to see him on the right wing

Ronaldo’s shooting also left a lot to be desired - these days he seems to hit the target with every shot - and he played from the right flank on his debut.

He soon realised that he produced his best football from the left wing and even now he’s reluctant to change his position, even though there’s a school of thought that it’s now the right time for him to become an out-and-out centre-forward.

How the media rated his performance

Reacting to his debut, the Telegraph ran the headline: ‘Cristiano Ronaldo's Real Madrid debut falls flat against Shamrock Rovers’.

Perhaps a tad harsh.

The Telegraph’s match report said: “[Ronaldo] will have envisaged row upon row of fawning fans, not the 11,000 unimpressed spectators who gleefully heckled when his name was announced before kick-off and then cackled, ‘Who are you? Who are you?’ when he fluffed two stock-in-trade free-kicks.

“But [Real Madrid fans’] reference to him as ‘Cristiano’ reminded that it is another Ronaldo held dear at his club. Beyond those skewed efforts from the dead ball he provided little. There was no moment of magic. A few seconds of fancy footwork will not be enough to erase memories of that Brazilian.”

Goal, meanwhile, gave him a 6.5 rating and added: "Made plenty of good runs, rarely if ever lost the ball and most of his tricks came off. His three shots at goal weren't quite up to scratch, though."

BBC Sport pointed out how Ronaldo was taunted.

"Real Madrid's record £80m signing Cristiano Ronaldo was constantly booed by some fans on his debut as the Spanish side beat Shamrock Rovers 1-0," read the match report.

"The winger left Manchester United to join Real this summer but had a bow to forget as he came off at half-time."

Ronaldo has exceeded all expectations at Madrid

Little did anyone know back then that Cristiano would go on to surpass the original Ronaldo.

By the same token, nobody could have envisaged he would go on to become the club’s all-time leading goalscorer, netting an insane tally of 406 goals in 394 appearances.

Leaving United for Madrid couldn’t have worked out better for the four-time Ballon d’Or winner.