It’s now almost a decade since Cristiano Ronaldo left Manchester United for Real Madrid.
The Portuguese superstar spent six happy years at Old Trafford before sealing his dream move to the Bernabeu in the summer of 2009.
During those six years, Ronaldo completed his transformation from skinny, talented teenager to a prolific powerhouse capable of destroying any defender on the planet.
Ronaldo won his first Ballon d’Or in 2008 after helping United win the Premier League and Champions League, scoring 42 goals in 49 appearances.
Thirty-one of those goals were scored in the Premier League and Ronaldo deservedly picked up the Premier League Player of the Season award as a result.
A further eight goals were scored in the Champions League, including one in the final against Chelsea in Moscow.
Ronaldo broke the deadlock with his back-post header but missed a penalty in the shoot-out. Fortunately it didn’t cost him and, thanks to John Terry’s slip and Edwin van der Sar’s brilliance, United were crowned champions of Europe for only the third time in their history.
Ronaldo sank to the ground in floods of tears after Van der Sar saved from Nicolas Anelka. He was now a European champion.
Cue the celebrations which presumably went on long into the night.
What Ronaldo did after the 2008 CL final
However, a story has now emerged - courtesy of Ronaldo’s cousin, Nuno Viveiros - of what United’s former number seven did when he retuned to Manchester.
“I lived with Cristiano in Manchester for five years, an unforgettable experience,” Viveiros is quoted as telling Tuttosport by The Sun. “The night when the team won the Champions League in 2008. Do you remember the final of Moscow with Chelsea that ended on penalties?
“Terry slides into the right post of the goal and at the end Van der Sar saves Anelka’s shot.
“Do you know what Cristiano did when we got back to Manchester that night? He went to train.
“He went to train after becoming a champion. European Champion at the age of twenty-three, he is like that, he’s a real son of Madeira.”
Only Ronaldo would dream of training the night after winning the Champions League.
Most of United’s players and coaching staff were presumably hungover for days after that famous night in Moscow but not Ronaldo.
This sums the guy up: a totally committed professional who ensures he’s always in tip-top condition.
It’s stories like this that set him apart from every other footballer. A true one-off.