Cristiano Ronaldo took the opportunity to impress the Real Madrid supporters and the club’s newly-appointed head coach Zinedine Zidane by scoring a great goal during Tuesday’s open training session at Valdebebas.
The three-time Ballon d’Or winner, wearing an orange bib handed to him by Zidane before the training match began, received the ball and produced a lovely scooped finish into the back of the net.
Supporters in the stands reacted by screaming out “Si!” - the word Ronaldo shouts when celebrating a goal or, indeed, a victory at a Ballon d’Or ceremony - and no doubt the watching Zidane will have been pleased to see his star player eager to make an impression on the training ground.
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In fact, the new boss himself will have been proud of such a finish. It was positively Zidane-esque.
Cristiano is yet to speak out about the appointment of Zidane, who once angered the Portuguese superstar after failing to back him for the Ballon d’Or award in 2013.
Video: Cristiano Ronaldo's goal
Zidane needs Ronaldo in top form
It seems that’s all water under the bridge, though, and Ronaldo will be desperate to finish the season - potentially his last as a Real Madrid player - by winning either the Spanish league title or the Champions League. If only to boost his chances of winning the 2016 Ballon d’Or.
Zidane, having seen Carlo Ancelotti and Rafael Benitez sacked within the space of seven months, will be acutely aware that he will need to hit the ground running at the Bernabeu - starting by securing all three points against Deportivo this weekend.
And in order to keep his job, he’ll need the likes of Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema all to buy into his philosophy.
Will Real Madrid win a trophy under Zinedine Zidane this season? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
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