When Cristiano Ronaldo departed Real Madrid last summer, it sent shockwaves throughout the footballing world. A stalwart for the club for nine years, the now Juventus player recently discussed his feelings about Los Blancos.
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of, if not the greatest Real Madrid players in history. The Portuguese national is the record scorer and led the team to win many trophies in his nine year tenure in the Spanish capital. However, his high profile issues with the powers that be in Florentino Perez, saw the player leave for Juventus last summer.
Joining the Italian champions for €100 million in 2018, the void left by Ronaldo has been felt in Madrid this season. With a struggle for goals leading to the club going trophy-less, it is natural that fans will pine for their former player.
In a recent interview the forward opened up on his time in Spain: “It’s true that I felt pressure from a very young age. When I came to Real Madrid I was the most expensive player in history. You must be humble, learn that you don’t know everything. If you’re smart, you get little things that make you better as an athlete.”
Cristiano recently opened up a hair clinic in Madrid, a city he still calls home: “My family is from here, they were born here, I lived in the city for nine years. Many moments that I have lived here cannot be extinguished. I went to Juve and if I wanted I could have said: “Ok, let’s open the clinic in another city”. But no. I continued with what we had planned to open the clinic in Madrid because Madrid has given me a lot, how can I forget it?”
Alongside his fallout with Florentino Perez, the player also had issues with the Spanish tax authorities in his final year. Accused and later found guilty of evading tax during his time in Spain, Ronaldo felt that the Perez and the club did not back him in the same way that Barcelona defended Leo Messi. This was reportedly one of the issues that further fed his doubts over his desire to remain at Real Madrid.
“Spaniards treated me well. I wanted to give them some jobs, regardless of having the tax problems I have had with the Treasury, because that I cannot forget or hide. My life is an open book. I walk with my head held high.”
Despite being eliminated with his new side from the UEFA Champions League by Ajax, the same side who eliminated Real, the Euro 2016 winner has had a successful first season in Italy. With two trophies won, including the Serie A title, he has adapted to life in his new surroundings comfortably.
In Madrid, however, the transition has not been so smooth. With the side struggling for a talisman, despite the strong exploits of Karim Benzema. With Ronaldo being such a monumental figure in Madrid’s history, it is easy to see why fans would bemoan his departure and hope for an eventual return.
The player expressed his gratitude for the club and the fans: “I know people love me; they know I’ve given a lot to Real Madrid and this club has also given me a lot. On the streets in Madrid they say to me: “Cris, come home, this house is always yours”. I like to hear that.”