The Birth of a Superstar: A Look at Cristiano Ronaldo’s Manchester United Career

Sometimes, when a player as special as Cristiano Ronaldo emerges at a club like Manchester United, history can be a little revisionist. People, keen to prove their football bona fides, might say they knew all along that he was special when there were plenty of doubts.

With Ronaldo, though, it is fair to say almost everyone who saw his debut could immediately see this was a special talent. While there were ebbs and flows as he grew into the Ballon d’Or-winning player he would become before leaving the club, and doubts reared their head along the way, the start was as impressive as most United fans could remember.

In a 2003 interview with writer Justyn Barnes, (h/t Sabotage Times), George Best said,

Cristiano Ronaldo’s first United game as a substitute in the season opener against Bolton [Wanderers] was undoubtedly the most exciting debut performance I’ve ever seen.

A few of my old team-mates were at the game and they compared him to me. There have been a few players described as ‘the new George Best’ over the years, but this is the first time it’s been a compliment to me. There have been players who have some similarities, but this lad’s got more than anyone else, especially as he is genuinely two-footed. He can play on either wing, beat players with ease and put in dangerous crosses with his left or right peg. When was the last time you saw that?

With Ronaldo and Giggsy on the pitch at the same time, opposition defenders will be petrified!

By 2008, it was clear that defenders would indeed be petrified with both Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs on the pitch, though Giggs had long since ceased to be a flying winger. Ronaldo had help, but even without it, he would have been enough to terrify most defenders on his own.

There were those who publicly doubted Ronaldo’s ability during his developing years. In his 2007 book This is the One: Sir Alex Ferguson: The Uncut Story of a Football Genius, Daniel Taylor shares a quote from former United ‘keeper Peter Schmeichel. After a 0-0 draw with Burton Albion in the FA Cup third round in 2006, the Great Dane said:

From where I’m looking the players seem interested only in cars and who has the biggest diamond. The team lacks personality. They had that in Roy Keane but the only one with that kind of personality now is Wayne Rooney. I’m thinking about players who could take the club forward. Ronaldo? No chance.

Rarely can a pundit have got something more wrong. Ronaldo, one of the most driven and professional footballers of his generation, not only helped take the club forward but was a key component of why Sir Alex Ferguson’s United were briefly contenders for the title of best club side in the world.

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He may well have a love for the material and cosmetic comforts associated with the kind of wealth …

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