Much has rained since Cristiano Ronaldo landed in Manchester in 2003-04. Countless titles and goals have accompanied his career and now, at 36 years old, he is still riding the wave and It is the nail that Portugal grabs onto to try to win the Eurocup. For this, those of Fernando Santos have a litmus test this Wednesday, against the France of Mbappé, Benzema, Griezmann and company, at 9:00 p.m. A selection that once shone Robert pires, as he also did in the Arsenal of the Wenger Invincibles, from where he saw CR7 take his first steps into the elite. To investigate those early years in Cristiano’s career, Record has contacted the former midfielder, who has been full of praise for the Juventus.
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“The first thing I thought when I saw him play was: ‘This kid is very fast.’ When it starts, you can’t stop itIt had that quality and it was impressive at the time, “the legend begins. gunner, which will also be fondly remembered by Villarreal fans, where he played between 2006 and 2010. Of course, he admits that it was difficult to precede his evolution: “Now, that he would reach the current level it was difficult to say, but he became a machine to win trophies. . He won at Manchester United, at Real Madrid, at the national team … “.
“Cristiano made feints and the English didn’t like him. They beat him up”
Robert Pires, in ‘Record’
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That first Cristiano was much more extreme and less forward. Dribbling was their way of life and Arsenal’s seasoned defenders didn’t like their tricks, as he continues D’Artagnan: “Those games (Arsenal-United) were very hot. Cristiano made feints and the English didn’t like him. They beat him. You can’t play like that against the English and you couldn’t do it at Highbury, the home of Arsenal. They insulted and beat him. At first he didn’t hold it very well, it was difficult for him. Football in England is completely different. “
Patrick Vieira, Robert Pires, Thierry Henry and Ashley Cole celebrate a goal for Arsenal in 2004.
MIKE FINN-KELCEY (REUTERS)
Although all this served as a baptism of fire for the then promising Christian. “Ronaldo learned a lot and very quickly. Then he became one of the best in the Premier League. For me, when talking about Cristiano Ronaldo, the art to talk about is scoring goals. It does it perfectly. Play to score and win trophies. It’s a machine “, concludes a Pires who also shone with Les Bleus, with whom he lifted the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 European Championship.
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