I wanna wish everybody a Happy New Year and lots of fun with Cristiano next year. If you have wishes for our site let us know. And a big thanks goes to Helena (www.estebangranero.net) for the graphic. I love it!
“I feel fulfilled every time I put the white shirt on and I always try to do my very best”
Realmadrid.com/ Marca
Cristiano Ronaldo sat down with Spanish sports daily Marca to discuss his first six months as a Madridista.
“I play for Real Madrid, the best club in the world, and I have the best teammates. They are all incredibly talented and I am convinced that we can do great things together.”
“Our football is improving and the coach is proving just how knowledgeable he is. I think he already knows what the key to playing well and winning more matches is.”
“Kaka is a phenomenal person and players. I hope he returns soon. He is crucial to the current and future success of Real Madrid.”
“I like to play as a forward. I have a lot of freedom to move around because the coach allows me to play like that. It lets me move from left to right whenever I want. I feel very comfortable in such a position and I perform well there, but I will play wherever I am told to.”
“I feel fulfilled every time I put the white shirt on and I always try to do my very best. There is no greater feeling than arriving at the Santiago Bernabeu, scoring goals and making fans happy.”
“My presentation was unforgettable. I wasn’t prepared for the magnitude of such an event. All those people came out to see me. It was an incredibly exciting day and one of the best of my life.”
“I am not driven by individual accolades. Whether it’s Higuain, Benzema or me, all that matters is that we win for Real Madrid. Winning titles is the primary objective.”
“The club’s doctors and physiotherapists helped me a lot and they are some of the most professional people I have ever worked with in my career. I like how their work ethic and I am convinced that I wouldn’t have recovered yet had I not been a member of this team. I feel better physically each day and I am sure that I do not need surgery.”
And I’ve added photos from the training from 28.12.09 so check the gallery out!
Gallery link:
Training Session 28/12/2009 [HQ]
Real Madrid winger Cristiano Ronaldo is targeting a dream UEFA Champions League final: victory over Barcelona at the Bernabeu. The two Spanish clubs, who are tussling it out at the top of La Liga, are both in the last 16 of Europe’s premier club competition.
And Ronaldo would love nothing more than to dethrone Real’s bitter rivals on his own turf.
“It would be a spectacle to be able to play the final in the Santiago Bernabeu,” the Portugal international told Correio da Manha. “As much for the players as for the fans. I hope to meet Barcelona in this final and beat them.”
Ronaldo spent around two months on the sidelines after suffering an ankle injury during a Champions League game at Marseille back in September. Since his return, he has scored four goals in as many games and the 24-year-old hopes he has put his injury woes firmly behind him.
“I hope I don’t have more injuries and so can help Real Madrid win all the competitions they are in this season,” he said. ”And not just for next year but also for the future.”
Real are two points behind Barça in the standings, and seven ahead of third-placed Sevilla.
And Ronaldo sent out an ominous warning to the rest of the Spanish league. ”I am full of confidence that we are going to get much better in the rest of the season,” he said.
Source: fifa.com
REAL MADRID winger Cristiano Ronaldo is targeting a dream Champions League final — victory over Barcelona at the Bernabeu.
The two Spanish giants are both in the last 16 of Europe’s premier club competition.
And former Manchester United star Ronaldo would love nothing more than to dethrone Madrid’s bitter rivals on his own turf.
The Portugal international, 24, said: “It would be a spectacle to be able to play the final in the Bernabeu, as much for the players as for the fans.
“I hope to meet Barcelona in this final and beat them.”
Ronaldo spent around two months on the sidelines after suffering an ankle injury during a Champions League clash at Marseille back in September.
Since his return, he has scored four goals in as many games and hopes he has put his injury woes firmly behind him.
He added: “I hope I don’t have more injuries and so can help Real win all the competitions they are in this season.
“And not just for next year but also for the future.”
Source: thesun.co.uk
I’ve added some photos from a Promotion Photoshoot from this year with Kaka for Real Madrid.
Gallery link:
Promotion Photoshoot for Real Madrid [HQ]
And I wish everyone a Merry Christmas. I hope you’ll have a great time with your family and your friends and a big thanks to you for visiting our site. Lots of love Cid
Winner of the FIFA World Player award for 2008 and having shown flashes of his inimitable brilliance for club and country in 2009, Cristiano Ronaldo knows that next year will be one of the most pivotal of his glittering career so far. In a 2010 during which the Portuguese wizard is expected to compete for major titles with new club Real Madrid, he will also hope to unleash his arsenal of attacking skills for his national side at the FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa.
Moments before taking the stage at the Kongresshaus in Zurich for the FIFA World Player Gala 2009, the Madrid superstar made time for a chat with FIFA.com about his current form and the challenges awaiting him on the horizon.
FIFA.com: Cristiano Ronaldo, you were nominated for the first edition of the FIFA Puskás Award, which is given to the scorer of the finest goal of the year, thanks to your strike against FC Porto in the UEFA Champions League. Tell us a bit about that effort.
Cristiano Ronaldo: It was unbelievable! I’m not saying that just because I scored it, but because it was truly fantastic. If you asked me how to score a goal like that I wouldn’t be able to tell you. It’s just hitting it hard and seeing the net billow, that’s all. This is a great award. It’s really good that FIFA are putting another award up for grabs at this Gala.
Portugal have been drawn in a very tough group at South Africa 2010. What went through your mind when you saw how the Final Draw turned out?
It’s going to be a very difficult group. Côte d’Ivoire, Brazil and North Korea are all very good sides. But there’s no point complaining about that now. What we’ve got to do is go there and show how well we can play football, like we’ve done in our last few national team games. We know it’ll be hard but I think we can do it.
Which game will be key to progressing from that group?
Well, I think they all will. Our team is the key, we have to be focused. Regarding our opening game with Côte d’Ivoire: they’re a team of physically strong players and, like us, they’ll be incredibly motivated. It’s going to be very tough but I think that Portugal have a better team and we’re going to do our best to win.
Portugal really struggled in qualifying while injury caused you to miss out on the team’s decisive final games. How did that feel?
Yes, the qualifying phase was very difficult indeed, but you can’t win anything without hard work and sacrifice. That’s what happened with Portugal. To be honest I couldn’t help much because of the injuries I had; I was always on my way back (from injury). There are several factors which contributed to me not having a good qualifying phase. But I’m confident that things will be different at the World Cup, and that I’ll be fit and on form to help Portugal achieve great results.
You are bound to be the centre of attention come the FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Does that put more pressure on you?
I think that the whole Portuguese national squad will get a lot of attention and not just me, because of how many Portuguese immigrants there are in South Africa. I think it’s going to be very good. A World Cup is a very special tournament and I hope that it goes well and, with the support we’ll get from the Portuguese who live in South Africa, Portugal have a good World Cup and go as far as we can.
Have you ever been to South Africa before?
I’ve never been. It’s going to be the first time and I’m very pleased to be able to visit an African country.
Should Portugal make it through the group phase, there’s a chance they will meet Spain in the Round of 16. Is that something you and the team have already spoken about?
To be honest, I’m concentrating on the first round. After that, of course we’ll be facing stronger and stronger teams. We know that we’re going to come up against great sides and, given the way the Draw works, one of them could be Spain. But I’m honestly not even thinking about that. Getting through the first round is the priority and to do so it’s really important that we win our opening match. From that point on we need to think that we’re capable of going far.
You worked with the current Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz when you were both at Manchester United. Is there any difference between his working methods at club and national-team level?
Carlos Queiroz is still the same as he was at Manchester United. He’s a great coach and a great person: someone who knows his own mind and will get the right messages across to us. I’m hopeful that things will go well, because he’s very experienced and so is the team. We’re aware that a World Cup is a unique experience in our careers and I hope that everything goes as well as possible.
Last summer you made the move to Real Madrid. How have your first few months at the club been?
It’s a new experience. The club’s different to United, though they are both big clubs. But, as I’ve already said on a few occasions, my cycle in Manchester had come to an end and my new life is at Real Madrid. I hope that I can win as many trophies as I won at United, or even more. I’m very happy in Madrid.
There is a great deal at stake for you next year: La Liga, the Champions League, the FIFA World Cup… What are your goals for 2010?
Winning everything possible; whatever we’re allowed to win. Real Madrid have an excellent team and ought to be battling for the major trophies, in this case La Liga and the UEFA Champions League. The World Cup is a tougher task, but one I’m still hopeful of winning. Anything’s possible in football. You need to think one step at a time and that’s why at the moment I’m only thinking about Real Madrid and winning the Spanish league and the Champions League, if we possibly can. There’s still six months to go until the World Cup and we’ll have plenty of time to think about that.
Source: fifa.com
CRISTIANO RONALDO has tipped England for greatness at next summer’s World Cup finals.
The £80million Real Madrid star was last night pipped to the FIFA World Player of the Year gong by Barcelona’s Lionel Messi.
Ronaldo said: “In my opinion, England have a fantastic team, they had a great qualification campaign.
“They have a good coach and have every opportunity to do a great job in South Africa.”
The former Manchester United star, 24, will always be remembered for his infamous wink towards the Portugal bench after Wayne Rooney was sent off in Germany 2006.
Portugal ended 10-man England’s World Cup dream in a quarter-final penalty shootout.
And Ronaldo added: “It’s not just England, Spain are really strong as well and Brazil are always there. Portugal also have their chances.
“At Euro 2004 nobody spoke about Greece and they won the tournament. You never know.
“I look forward to having a great World Cup and I’m really focused.”
Ronaldo refused to be drawn on Ryan Giggs’ view that United do not miss the Portugal ace – despite suffering five League losses already.
He said: “Well, I think United are doing very well this season. It’s his opinion.”
Source: thesun.co.uk
Portuguese football player Cristiano Ronaldo seen leaving a restaurant on December 21, 2009 in Madrid, Spain. Also I`ve added one picture made by Mike Hewitt on FIFA`s World Player Gala 2009.
Gallery liknks:
• Leaving Restaurant In Madrid 21/12/2009 [HQ]
• Mike Hewitt Photoshoot 21/12/2009 [HQ]
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo receives the FIFA Puskas Award from the hands of Erzsebet Puskas, the widow of the legendary Hungarian attacking midfielder during the FIFA World Player Gala 2009 on December 21, 2009 in Zurich. Other pictures are from Press Conference for the FIFA 2009 Men’s Player of the Year at the Kongresshaus on December 21, 2009 in Zurich, Switzerland.
Gallery liknks:
• FIFA’s World Football Player Gala 2009 Award 21/12/2009 [HQ]
• FIFA’s World Football Player Gala 2009 Award Ceremony 21/12/2009 [HQ]
If Manchester United are not missing Cristiano Ronaldo — and their patchy recent form suggests that they are — he is certainly missing them. A piece of his heart will always remain at Old Trafford, the Portugal forward has admitted.
Ronaldo revealed his innermost thoughts in Zurich last night before discovering the disappointment of finishing second to Lionel Messi, the Barcelona and Argentina forward, in the Fifa/Fifpro Player of the Year Award for 2009.
“What people think about me is their opinion but I really miss Manchester a bit,” he said. “I played there for six years and I left a few friends there. So I miss the club a little bit but I’m focused now at Real Madrid and I’m really happy there.”
Although Ronaldo moved to Spain for a fee of £80 million last summer, he still follows United’s fortunes. “I think they are doing very well this season,” he said. “They have lost two [of their past three] games, but they are still second in the league.”
Ronaldo also admitted that United and Real have to play catch-up with the all-conquering Barcelona team. “They have won everything this year so have to be the best club at the moment,” he said. “They have a style of play and players who have been together for many years.
“But we will do at our best at Madrid to win the league and Champions League. It’s going to be difficult but, in football, everything is possible if you work hard and dedicate yourself to that endeavour.”
Portugal and England will play in the World Cup finals in South Africa next year, with Ronaldo believing that both countries can progress to the later stages. “England have a fantastic team, had a great qualification [campaign] and have a good coach,” he said.
“They have an opportunity next year to do a great job in South Africa but not just England. Spain are strong and Brazil as always. Portugal also has a chance. Look at Euro 2004, when no one spoke about Greece beforehand and they won the tournament. I’m looking forward to a great World Cup, I’m really focused.”
Source:timesonline.co.uk
