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Cristiano Ronaldo Presentation LIVE!
Welcome to Cristiano Ronaldo's LIVE presentation at Real Madrid. He's been awarded the number 9 shirt in front of around 80,000 fans at the Santiago Bernabeu. That's even more than attended Diego Maradona's Napoli presentation. An historic occasion, to be sure. For more live coverage and chat head to our Transfer Live!
7/6/09
That concludes live coverage for this evening. Be sure to check out our other great Cristiano Ronaldo content, though:
Squad Number 9 For Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldo and Perez speak out at the presentation
Cristiano Ronaldo profile
Cristiano Ronaldo press conference
Or, to keep chatting, head over to Transfer LIVE! here.
Squad Number 9 For Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldo and Perez speak out at the presentation
Cristiano Ronaldo profile
Cristiano Ronaldo press conference
Or, to keep chatting, head over to Transfer LIVE! here.
7/6/09
On potential squad disharmony: "From what I have heard, no-one has said bad about the dressing room, quite on the contrary, all the players have their lives, and I am sure there will be no problems. I am sure Raul is a great person. I have never had any problems, and I won't have any now."
7/6/09
"I wanted 7 but 9 is also a mythical number, it always makes me happy. The numbers do not play, I will try to do things the same way, regardless of the number on my shirt," he says.
7/6/09
Ronaldo begins his charm offensive early:
"I expect it to be different here. I played six years in the Premier League and it is very different from the Spanish League. It's faster and the players are stronger, but La Liga is also very competitive, small teams try to play good football. It has nice players, good teams, it will be interesting and I look forward to enjoying La Liga."
"In England there are very nice referees but in La Liga you have fantastic referees," he laughed.
"I expect it to be different here. I played six years in the Premier League and it is very different from the Spanish League. It's faster and the players are stronger, but La Liga is also very competitive, small teams try to play good football. It has nice players, good teams, it will be interesting and I look forward to enjoying La Liga."
"In England there are very nice referees but in La Liga you have fantastic referees," he laughed.
7/6/09
Cristiano Ronaldo denies that he has fallen out with Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson. "The goodbye was very good, I have a very good relationship with him and it will always be like that, I went to Manchester, talked to him, and everything is fine, he is happy, I am happy, we have to move on now."
7/6/09
More from CR9 at the press conference: "I've always wanted to play here, and after what I did at Manchester I wanted a change. This is the right club for me and I have no doubt about that. The presentation and wearing the kit for the first time is special."
7/6/09
Cristiano Ronaldo press conference: "I always believed that a club to have good players have to play, Madrid made a very correct decision, they were very serious. I understand people, it was not a normal thing, I am happy to be the most expensive player in the history of football, it makes me proud, and I will show they were right to pay that figure for me."
7/6/09
The press conference is beginning shortly at the Santiago Bernabeu. Incidentally, the next player to be unveiled at Real Madrid - Karim Benzema - should follow later this week.
7/6/09
According to a Real Madrid announcement, the turnout this evening was 75,000 - that's the same number as Diego Maradona's presentation at Napoli. So, not a world record in its own right, but impressive nonetheless.
7/6/09
The ill-fated keepy-ups!
7/6/09
More from CR9 to Real Madrid TV: "We have four new players. I think the president did a fantastic job to buy these great players, and I'm sure that Madrid will be better than last season, I hope.
"We'll work all together pre-season, we'll start to build a good team and when we start the league we have to be strong, we have to play like a team and this is why we have to win the titles. If you have a good team you have the chance to win titles."
"We'll work all together pre-season, we'll start to build a good team and when we start the league we have to be strong, we have to play like a team and this is why we have to win the titles. If you have a good team you have the chance to win titles."
7/6/09
More of Cristiano Ronaldo speaking to Real Madrid TV: "When you play in a big team, you always have pressure on your back. I have pressure, it's not a problem, I'm still confident. I think I'm at the right club to keep going with my career and I'm very focused to do a good job and show the people I'm a good player."
7/6/09
Ronaldo to Real Madrid TV: "I think the Premier League is a very tough league. Physically, you have to be strong, to be fast, because the football is very quick there.
"Here it is different. The small teams have quality to play as well, they're not scared to play. I think there is special football here in La Liga. I hope to be as good as I was in Manchester. I'm going to work for that, and I'm very confident for that."
"Here it is different. The small teams have quality to play as well, they're not scared to play. I think there is special football here in La Liga. I hope to be as good as I was in Manchester. I'm going to work for that, and I'm very confident for that."
7/6/09
Ronaldo is currently 'underground' in the Bernabeu changing rooms, about to head to the press centre for his first Real Madrid press conference. We'll bring the highlights to you from that as they happen, and of course we'll publish a full article on it as well.
But first of all, we have some quotes from Real Madrid TV...
But first of all, we have some quotes from Real Madrid TV...
7/6/09
Our man in Madrid, Juan Lirman, states that the pitch invasion could have been much worse than that captured by the TV cameras. He says, "From my vantage point there were more than just a few. It wasn't five, ten or twenty. It was around a hundred that charged, catching security completely by surprise, and one broke through. Thankfully nothing serious happened, but what a shock that was!"
7/6/09
One crazy fan broke through security and fell almost on the player's feet.
7/6/09
Well, what to make of that? Probably the biggest player presentation of all time, the entire pitch given over to the introduction of a young man who is determined to become a Real Madrid legend, with Alfredo di Stefano and Eusebio looking on. For the 80,000 fans - who raised the roof when the player emerged, incidentally - it may be unforgettable. But we must remember that aside from all the glitz and glamour, Real Madrid have to overcome Barcelona in La Liga. The hard work begins now!
7/6/09
The Cristiano Ronaldo press conference is coming up right after this - we'll be bringing you that live, too.
7/6/09
For more on that controversial awarding of the '9 Ronaldo' shirt to the new signing, see the link below.
Read More
7/6/09
The fans are just loving the level of expenditure of the president!
7/6/09
A full transcription of Florentino Perez's introduction and - more interestingly - Cristiano Ronaldo's first words as a Real Madrid player are available here.
Read More
7/6/09
The Portuguese is now back on the stage for some more pictures as the crowd roar 'Ronaldo'.
7/6/09
Ronaldo is now walking around the stadium applauding to the crowd, also signing some footballs and giving some autographs...
7/6/09
"Good evening. I just want to say, I told my friends that I was going to be very natural. Well, I'm just so happy to be here.
"For me, I have made my childhood dream a reality, which was nothing less than playing for Real Madrid.
"I didn't expect a jam-packed stadium. This is truly impressive!
"Thank you very much, and I'm going to ask you all to say with me - I'm going to count to three - to say Hala Madrid. Ready? One, two, three - HALA MADRID!"
"For me, I have made my childhood dream a reality, which was nothing less than playing for Real Madrid.
"I didn't expect a jam-packed stadium. This is truly impressive!
"Thank you very much, and I'm going to ask you all to say with me - I'm going to count to three - to say Hala Madrid. Ready? One, two, three - HALA MADRID!"
7/6/09
"Welcome to the Santiago Bernabeu and Real Madrid," says Perez to the Portuguese, who will now speak for the first time as a Real player.
7/6/09
Cristiano Ronaldo is here! His number is 9, as expected. The name on the back of his shirt is 'Ronaldo' and not 'C.Ronaldo' but that might still change. The crowd goes wild!!!!!!!
7/6/09
Florentino Perez is now up on the stand and speaking. He starts by thanking the crowd for their huge support and for coming to the Santiago Bernabeu.
"What is happening tonight might not have a precedent," he said. "Your massive attendance at our stadium represents the pure essence of this new Real Madrid. Thank you for being the true stars of this unstoppable force of pride and dreams."
"What is happening tonight might not have a precedent," he said. "Your massive attendance at our stadium represents the pure essence of this new Real Madrid. Thank you for being the true stars of this unstoppable force of pride and dreams."
7/6/09
More footage on the big screen, this time of Real Madrid. The song that accompanies the video is 'Nessun dorma', which in English means 'No one shall sleep'. The final part 'Vincerò!' (I shall win) certainly suits what the fans want from this team...
7/6/09
More footage of Cristiano Ronaldo on the stage screen, featuring several key moments throughout his time at Manchester United. The song is 'À minha maneira' by Xutos e Pontapés, a Portuguese rock band.
7/6/09
Florentino Perez appears on the circuit, waving at the crowd as they scream 'Florentino, Florentino'. Still no sign of the man of the moment, Cristiano Ronaldo, though.
7/6/09
Alfredo di Stefano and Eusebio are now on the circuit built exclusively for Cristiano Ronaldo's presentation. You can now hear the fans screaming as the moment when the Portugal international will appear edges closer.
7/6/09
The actual presentation is due to begin in around ten minutes' time.
7/6/09
Juan Lirman, our man in Madrid, says: "There around 400 other journalists in the press area. It's insane. Dozens from the newspapers, and from TV there are many Portuguese stations, and ESPN for both Latino and English-speaking audiences."
7/6/09
Not matchday - just CR7's presentation.
Not matchday - just CR7's presentation.
7/6/09
The gates that give access to the stadium are already being closed. It looks like some thousands of people will be unable to enter and will have to watch Ronaldo's unveiling on the big screen placed outside.
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