Cristiano Ronaldo: Why I Left Manchester United
Superstar Cristiano Ronaldo was a fan favourite during his time at Manchester United, and he has now spoken about his decision to leave the Red Devils in 2009.
Ronaldo spent six years at United, between 2003 and 2009, where he celebrated winning nine trophies, including three Premier League titles and one UEFA Champions League crown, before making the switch to Real Madrid.
Speaking in a recent interview with former United colleague Rio Ferdinand, the 32-year-old admitted that, despite the success he enjoyed at the Red Devils, his big dreams and desire for a new challenge inspired his big-money move to the Spanish giants.
"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," he said in the interview with his former teammate for Nike Football, according to the Daily Star.
"I arrived, I had a fantastic first season and I improved every season. But I never forget the Red Devils.
"When I became a Manchester player, it was a moment of maximum pride for me. But I think it was more for my family.
"At the beginning, winning trophies was very exciting for me. I remember when I won my first Champions League with Manchester, the emotions surpassed me.
"Same with the first Golden Ball. But my dreams were getting bigger. I guess that's how dreams work, right?
"I had always admired Madrid and wanted a new challenge. I wanted to win trophies with Madrid, break all the records and become a legend of the club."
Ronaldo scored 118 goals and assisted a further 61 strikes in 291 matches for United.
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