Cristiano Ronaldo has explained that he left Manchester United for Real Madrid in 2009 to pursue bigger challenges after achieving all he could at Old Trafford.
The Portuguese superstar won three Premier League titles, the Champions League and the Ballon d’Or between the 2006/07 and 2008/09 seasons before moving to Madrid for a then-world-record £80million.
Ronaldo has gone on to establish himself as one of the finest players in footballing history with three more Champions League and Ballon d’Or wins with Los Blancos.
Still, United have been linked with a move to bring their former star back to Manchester on more than one occasion, even if it has failed to materialise each time.
Writing in The Players’ Tribune, the 32-year-old explained that his success at United was no longer enough as he had his sights set on becoming a Real Madrid legend.
‘When I became a player for Manchester, it was a very proud moment for me, but I think it was an even prouder moment for my family,’ Ronaldo said.
‘At first, winning trophies was very emotional for me. I remember when I won my first Champions League trophy at Manchester, it was an overwhelming feeling. Same thing with my first Ballon d’Or.
‘But my dreams kept getting bigger. That’s the point of dreams, right? I had always admired Madrid, and I wanted a new challenge. I wanted to win trophies at Madrid, and break all the records, and become a club legend.
Cristiano Ronaldo honours
Sporting Lisbon
Supertaca Candido de Oliveira: 2002
Manchester United
Premier League: 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09
FA Cup: 2003–04
Football League Cup: 2005–06, 2008–09
Community Shield: 2007
Champions League: 2007–08
FIFA Club World Cup: 2008
Real Madrid
La Liga: 2011–12, 2016–17
Copa del Rey: 2010–11, 2013–14
Supercopa de Espana: 2012, 2017
Champions League: 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17
UEFA Super Cup: 2014, 2017
FIFA Club World Cup: 2014, 2016
Portugal
European Championship: 2016
‘Over the past eight years, I have achieved incredible things at Madrid.’
Ronaldo has scored 411 goals in 401 games for Real, becoming their all-time leading scorer, but he’s suggested he isn’t done yet at the Bernabeu.
‘In the end, of course – my mission is the same as it has always been,’ he said. ‘I want to continue to break records at Madrid. I want to win the most titles possible. This is just my nature.’
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