Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted he’ll never forget his time at Manchester United after showing off the boots which helped make him a world superstar at Real Madrid.
The four-time Ballon d’Or winner swapped Old Trafford for the Berbabeu in a then world record £80million transfer in the summer of 2009 and has gone on to establish himself as the world’s best alongside Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi.
And during an intimate interview with former United team-mate Rio Ferdinand, Ronaldo revealed the incredible collection of Nike footwear he has worn on his way to the top of the game.
Cristiano Ronaldo shows off his incredible Nike boot collection at his home in Madrid
The Real Madrid superstar displays the Nike Mercurial boots he has worn during his career
Ronaldo shows off his skills in his garden and helps son, Cristiano Jnr, tie his boot laces
Cristiano Jnr has a shot at Ronaldo’s former Manchester United team-mate Rio Ferdinand
Giving fans a glimpse into his home in Madrid, the 32-year-old shows off a wall of Mercurial boots, each of which he has worn at some point during his illustrious career.
He also helped his son, Cristiano Jnr, tie the laces of his own Nike boots for a garden shooting session, with Ferdinand taking on the role of goalkeeper.
Speaking to Ferdinand, his team-mate of six years at United, Ronaldo explained his reasons for leaving England and joining the La Liga giants.
Asked about the day he was unveiled at the Bernabeu in front of 80,000 screaming fans, Ronaldo said: ‘When I land here in Madrid I start to feel the atmosphere. I thought it was a game in that day because (there were so) many people.
‘All these people are coming here just to see me. It was a great surprise for me. It was an unbelievable day.
‘I was so proud and you know I feel inside that the people here in Spain live for football. They love it. It was a great day for me.
Cristiano Jnr shows off his skills in Ronaldo’s garden as the Real Madrid man takes a shot
‘I just thought in my mind “I want to go there to show my level, to show that I’m a different player” and this is what I did.
‘I arrive, I did a fantastic season. I improve every season. It was a great experience but I never forget the Red Devils.’
Ronaldo had already won one Ballon d’Or by the time he departed for Spain, but it was his incredible transformation from scrawny teenager to world-beater which really caught the eye in Manchester.
Asked by Ferdinand, the man he played alongside for six years at Old Trafford, what he would do after training at Carrington, Ronaldo replied: ‘I learn to be better and better. To be around the best players in the world.
‘If you make the two things – talent with working hard – you can be a huge player. I think I’m in that role.’
Ronaldo has added two La Liga titles, three Champions League trophies and a host of personal accolades to his collection since leaving the Premier League, and he admits that winning silverware remains his No 1 goal.
Asked about his greatest achievement in football, the Portuguese said: ‘Inside the pitch the most important is always to win trophies because we work 10, 11 months.
‘If you don’t win nothing it’s empty, you know? I like to win trophies – collective and individual – because I work hard for that.’
And off the pitch?
‘It’s to have the family that I have, the friends that I have and to try to be the most happy person in the world,’ Ronaldo admits.
Ferdinand hung up his boots in 2015 after almost 20 years playing for West Ham, Leeds, United and QPR, but will be returning to professional sport when he takes on Betfair’s ‘Defender to Contender’ boxing challenge over the coming year.
Asked where he’d like to be in 10 years, Ronaldo joked: ‘In 10 years it will be tough (to win the Ballon d’Or). Maybe to do boxing like you?’
But after Ferdinand suggested he could fight at supper-middleweight, the Portugal international admitted: ‘Nah, nah, nah. I don’t want that.’