K�tia, a Ronalda, foi com a Vidas a Manchester para submeter o seu disco de estreia � aprecia��o do irm�o Ronaldo. Veja como o craque reagiu �s m�sicas rom�nticas.

Ronalda � assim foi baptizada artisticamente � quis apresentar o disco ao �mano� famoso, mostrando-lhe a obra feita. Cristiano gostou e o primeiro disco ficou em Inglaterra, oferecido pela int�rprete a Ronaldo, claro est�. A Vidas estava l� e testemunhou n�o s� o encontro de irm�os, como os fortes la�os que os unem.

Sente-se um nervoso miudinho numa das salas da casa onde habita Cristiano Ronaldo. K�tia, a Ronalda, est�, apesar de o tentar esconder, algo ansiosa. Aquele � um momento importante. Cristiano, na ressaca de mais um jogo, n�o aparenta preocupa��o. Mostra-se tranquilo e sorridente, sempre pronto para brincar e fomentar as traquinices do pequeno Rodrigo, um dos seus sobrinhos, filho da futura cantora. A conversa corre sem pressas, bebe-se um ch� bem quente e a m�sica come�a a tocar. De repente, as vozes calam-se, � escuta. S� Rodrigo, na inoc�ncia dos seus quatro anos, prefere entusiasmar-se na passadeira rolante que o tio tem em casa. �Ele gosta�, diz Ronaldo, vislumbrando uma reminisc�ncia do seu passado. �Em crian�a tamb�m era assim, sempre activo�, sustenta.

�Estou Pronta Para Te Amar�, can��o que servir� de single promocional do primeiro CD de Ronalda, toca e os olhares na sala cruzam-se, c�mplices. �Ent�o Ronaldo, o que achas?�, pergunta a irm�. Cristiano lan�a um aceno afirmativo, ele gostou, e rapidamente K�tia envaidece-se. Chega a vibrar em segredo quando surge o refr�o �Estou s� e perdida/ mas pronta para te amar.../ estou s� e perdida/ mas quero-te outra vez/ e mesmo tra�da estou pronta para te ver�.

�Sou assumidamente rom�ntica. Sempre fui e n�o me preocupo com os r�tulos�, diz K�tia, antes de recordar as festas de fam�lia que abrilhantava com a voz muito antes do sucesso de Ronaldo chegar. �Nunca me lembro de ter cantado s� para o Ronaldo. Cantava para todos l� em casa. Sempre que havia festas era eu quem animava a fam�lia. E todos gostavam�, recorda. ��s vezes, algu�m dizia: �devias era ser cantora�. E foi por isso que, perante a oportunidade, n�o hesitei. O apoio da fam�lia sempre foi e � fundamental.�

IRM�O PREFERE O 'HIP-HOP'

Ronaldo gosta de ouvir a irm�, mas prefere �hip-hop� e assume-o frontalmente. �Gostei das melodias e da voz doce. E agora aguardo o lan�amento com alguma expectativa para saber a reac��o do p�blico. Mas espero que a K�tia tenha muito sucesso. Ela tem talento e qualidade�, diz.

Enquanto Ronaldo comenta, a irm� K�tia bebe com prazer cada elogio, como que se h� muito esperasse este momento. Passou com distin��o, est� aprovada por Ronaldo. �Agora que ele ouviu e at� ficou sem palavras, isso deu--me muita for�a. A primeira c�pia � para ele. N�o escondo que esperava com ansiedade a sua reac��o. A opini�o do Ronaldo � importante para mim. Sempre foi�, confessa K�tia.

A sua voz continua a ecoar na sala, agora em �Tudo Em Teu Nome�, outra das can��es presentes no disco Ronaldo escuta atento e, como quando um dos seus dribles provocadores agita o p�blico, intromete-se e faz disparar o cora��o de K�tia. �Acredito no projecto e n�o apenas porque se trata da minha irm�. Recordo-me desde sempre de a ouvir cantar. Era um h�bito, um bom h�bito que foi perdurando. Todos gost�vamos daqueles momentos. Agora, sei que est� prestes a concretizar um sonho e isso deixa-me feliz . Todos queremos o melhor para aqueles que amamos, n�o �?� pergunta, em jeito de justifica��o, prosseguindo. �E sei que se depender dela, do seu trabalho e do seu profissionalismo, o sucesso est� garantido. Apoio-a totalmente, aprecio a coragem que teve para arriscar. Pode contar comigo e ela sabe disso!�, frisa o jogador do Manchester United.

K�tia sente-se, por esta altura, maravilhada e sorri, sorri muito, agita-se num sentimento difuso, mas pleno de felicidade. Este � um dia para mais tarde recordar. Ronalda passou com distin��o no exame de Ronaldo. E a Vidas estava l�.

�A MINHA PRIORIDADE � PROVAR QUE TENHO VALOR�

K�tia despe a pele de Ronalda com facilidade. E garante que a personagem agora criada, apesar do intuito de aludir ao irm�o famoso, n�o tem como objectivo chegar, como Cristiano Ronaldo, aos p�ncaros da fama. �Compara��es s� mesmo no nome e por sermos irm�os�, diz, convicta e com os p�s bem assentes na terra. �O meu objectivo n�o passa por ter a fama do meu irm�o. Ali�s, julgo que isso nem passa pela cabe�a de ningu�m. O Ronaldo � um cidad�o do Mundo, conhecido em todo o planeta. � um artista do futebol e isso diz tudo.� N�o se pense, contudo, que lhe falta ambi��o. �Isso nunca. Quero ter sucesso, mas a minha prioridade � provar �s pessoas que tenho valor. Adoro cantar e entreguei-me de corpo e alma a este projecto. Para mim, � o concretizar de um sonho de menina.�

�APRENDI COM O RONALDO A LIDAR COM O ASS�DIO�

Rodrigo � o �nico filho de K�tia, tem quatro anos, e, na sua inoc�ncia, talvez ainda n�o entenda que esteve na origem do tema �O Meu Tesouro�, can��o escrita pela m�e com dedicat�ria especial. �Ser m�e foi uma experi�ncia fant�stica. O Rodrigo � a minha vida�, diz, vaidosa, enquanto toca os cabelos do pequenote. E que tal oferecer-lhe um irm�o? �Neste momento, n�o est� nos nossos planos�, diz. E como reagir� ao ass�dio dos f�s, sendo casada e m�e? �Sinceramente, n�o me preocupa muito. Desde que sejamos humildes e tenhamos a capacidade para perceber os sentimentos das outras pessoas, as coisas correm bem. Se calhar, com o Ronaldo, aprendi coisas que me podem ser �teis. E ele lida muito bem com o ass�dio�, sublinha.

DISCO NO FIM DO M�S

K�tia n�o esconde a ansiedade por ver o disco no mercado. �� verdade que penso muito nisso. Mas j� falta pouco. O disco sai no final do m�s de Fevereiro�. E para a Vidas, Ronalda levanta o v�u: �Ser�o 12 can��es rom�nticas, mas tamb�m algumas dan��veis, com um ritmo forte e apelativo. Espero que gostem�, diz a artista, que at� comp�s uma m�sica dedicada ao filho Rodrigo, de quatro anos.

Translation (summary): It basically says his sister went to manchester to show him her album for him to see if he liked the songs he did but he says he preferes hip-hop the album is romantic but also with abit of dance to it. Also his nephew was there and he says when he was rodrigos age he was active like him too and katia says she's always loved singing at family gatherings she's entertain by singing and everyone would love it how the family has always been and is supportive of eachother and ronaldo said he'll always support her cos you always want to support the people you love. It also talks about how because of her brothers fame she's been "baptized" with the name ronalda the album is out at the end of the month and she of course gave the first copy to ronaldo she also said she wants to prove that she has value, that she can do it and he says he's hoping that she has lots of success.

_________________________________________________________________________________________ Media Interview

- Does "paparazzi" continue to follow you everywhere? All the things written about me are lies. They say I smash rented cars, but I have never had an accident and I don't event need rented cars. I have my own.

- Do you go out often on nights, like to the famous "Living Room", where other Man United players go? I never go out and when it happens, then I only go to Italian restaurants, and I never come home late. I normally go to a restaurant that is 45 minutes away from my home. I spend most of the time at home, and my mother cooks very well and I like to eat at home.

- What do you like to do in your free time? I watch some TV, watch the latest movies, and I have, for example, a training machine where I do some exercise. And sometimes I go shopping.

- Where you spend fortunes, right? That is more speculation than anything else. I like simple things and I give money the real value. I have grown up in a humble way!

- What kind of special things do you have in your home? Nothing special. Look, that's another lie. Everybody says I have payed a fortune for my house and that is not true. I have no pool and nothing very special as everybody says. It�s a very simple house with two floors.

- Is it true that you have some personal security guards? I don't even like to talk about that...The club, for special events that the players sometimes attend, has contracted the only personal security guards I have had. So they are contracted by the club and not by me and they normally work for all the players.

- Do you have more cars besides your BMW X5? No, I haven't got any other cars. I just have a Porsche Cayenne now.

- Do you still prefer blonds? Blonds?

- Are you also going to deny the story about the two blonds that you and Djemba-Djemba meet and whom had stolen your wallet? Yes I am, because it is a lie! I have a very normal life and I only want to train to do better! About the wallet, sorry, but about my credit card, the only thing that happened was that I forgot it in a gasoline station once.

- How is your English? It is better. I had a teacher and now I speak it a lot better. It�s not perfect, but it�s okay...

- Do you think it is still possible to win the Premier League? Of course it is. I even have to say that I was furious at the end of the game against Fulham. We lost 2 points during the last minutes and we had the game controlled until then.

- Is it true that you had a problem with Alan Smith after the game against Fulham? Well, I don't read English newspapers anymore! Absolutely nothing happened. I never had problems with anybody at the club. At the beginning I gave importance to what was written about me on the news, but now I just don't care anymore.

- Everybody says that Djemba-Djemba is your best mate at the club. I have good relations with everybody there. Well, he lives near me and arrived at the club the same time as me, maybe that's why I talk a bit more with him, but the truth is that I have good relations with everybody. I used to talk a lot with Forl�n, but he went away, but sometimes I am also with Nistelrooy.

- Have you already forgotten the disillusion of having lost the Europe Cup with your National Team? Well sometimes I still feel revolt, but I also have hope with this national team, and I feel that the next big opportunity, I mean the next World Cup or European Cup, we will win something.

- Have you the notion of being considered the big hope of your national team and that you are also considered as being the successor of Figo? I only want to give my best! Figo is a great player. I never thought that I would be playing in the position he used to play! For me it is an honour, but I don't like to be compared. And if Figo still wants to, he can be a great contribution to our national team.

_________________________________________________________________________________________ Katia Interview
She dreamt about being a singer since she was a child. But it's now as shes 27 years old that Katia Ronaldo will become a professional artist. Because her life was influenced and became like that, because she is the sister of one of the most famous players in the world. But the most important thing for the Madeiran is knowing that she gives all for her new album wich will release on 2005.
Despite he's far from Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo watches closely at this new stage of his sisters life. Cristiano is the first one to comment on Katias big dream, and he promises to be "the first in the album release" and with no half words he says he's one of her biggest fans: "Since I was a child I heard her singing. I'm certainly her biggest fan. She has a good voice and you will be surprised." Cristiano Ronaldo even says that his sister will always have his friendly soulder such as she gave him and still has in her: "She knows she can count on me for everything. It's obvious that I believe in her and wish her the biggest gratitude."
Do you believe that being Cristiano Ronaldo sister is half way for the success? He supports me as a public figure and that's very good. I know that people will be curious to listen to 'Cristiano's sister'. It's very gratifying to know that he supports me.

How is it like to live under the name Cristiano Ronaldo? It's a huge proud to hear people saying: " Look, it's Ronaldo's sister!". I'm very proud of people who like my brother. It's important they give the right value for what I do, but I don't worry about poeple pointing me as 'Cristiano's sister'.
Is it true you are like his second mother? My mother is essential to him, for all of us. She's the boss of her children. But with Cristiano's life, that is more active, she worries much. Although, when Ronaldo needs an opinion he calls me or Liliana.
What was your difficult childhood like? Difficult is not the right word. We're humble. We weren't born in a rich family. We were never angry or without shoes. We weren't rich!
But were you happy? Yes. We grew up together. When Cristiano went to Sporting Lisbon we were - and we still are - very close. Even now that we have a better life, we're still humble. We don't let riches get in our family life too much.
Would you like him to play again in Portugal? That's his decision. We want him to be happy here or anywhere. He's still 19 years old, he's starting his career. For now we can't think about that but, of course, I have a huge care about Sporting Lisbon.
What happened between Miss Portugal and Ronaldo? It's just a friendship. If all of my friends were his girlfriends, there'll be a huge list.
At this moment, is he alone? No, he's with his mother and sister (laughs). No, he doesn't have girlfriend.
Does he still come home to Madeira often? When he can. This year, for example, it's being very complicated. This christmas he probably won't spend with us. But my mother is there and we have two cousins that are planning to go to Manchester.
How did you get your love for music? It started when I was a child. In Madeira, when there were concerts, I used to be invited because I was very active. I always had a dream of recording a CD, but I never thought it would be possible. When this opportunity appeared I caught it. It was in Lisbon. When I met Ana Malhoa and she knew that I liked to sing and she introduced me to a producer who is now working with me.
What kind of music will your album have? A mixture. Lots of romantic songs, that I really like and some pop but basicly romantic ballads.
Are the songs written by you? I have been writing some. Others aren't finished yet. The only one that is completely done is dedicated to my son. It's not romantic. Well, is from mother to son. It's a love song but maternal (laughs).
Do you want to sing live? Always. When I have the opportunity I want to do it. I want to prove that I'm not only 'Cristiano Ronaldo's sister'. I want to prove I can sing.

_________________________________________________________________________________________ The interview with his dad 'My son should dedicate victory to the people of Madeira' The whitewashed church of Santo Antonio is still the most famous landmark in the modest district to which it gives its name in the north of Madeira's capital city, Funchal. But when the regulars in the small bar opposite the church on the Camino do Ribeirinho settle down to watch Portugal play Holland tonight, the patron saint, Anthony, will find himself second-best to a new local hero. Instead, all eyes in Santo Antonio will be on a teenager who grew up in a tiny house in the centre of their community and tonight carries the hopes of Portugal in Euro 2004 on his broad shoulders. At 19, it would be too simple to say that Cristiano Ronaldo has come a long way. He has inherited David Beckham's No 7 shirt and right-wing spot at Manchester United and supplanted Luis Figo as the most exciting attacker in the Portugal side. His �12.25 million move from Sporting Lisbon to United last summer smashed the English transfer record for a teenager and by the end of the season a match-winning performance in the FA Cup final confirmed his status as a regular in Sir Alex Ferguson's side. His famous stepovers have made him a cult favourite at Old Trafford and although he ranks as one of the club's more modest wage earners � just �20,000 a week � he has the promise of greater riches to come. All of which makes his rapid ascent from a poor background in Madeira more remarkable. Cristiano was the youngest of four children but only his father, Jose Dinis, 50, and sister Elma, 30, still live on the island. His parents split up about 10 years ago and while they are still on good terms, Cristiano's mother, Maria Dolores, his brother Hugo, 29, and second sister Liliana, 26, live with him in Manchester. The family grew up in a tiny house tucked away on one of the many hills that rise behind the expensive hotels on the Funchal seafront. Jose, who now works for the Santo Antonio local authority, was then a kit-man at Andorinha, the football club where Cristiano's career began at the age of five. Now Jose lives in a big house, with a view of the bay, in the affluent district of Livramento. It was bought for him by his son. Jose talks by telephone to Cristiano almost every day and pictures of his son in United kit adorn the walls of his living room. His son's profile in Portugal is huge. He advertises a bank and has agreed to be the public face of Madeira at European Union trade fairs. He said: "Cristiano always played a year above his age group. When he played at Andorinha the people loved him and were proud of him. They are proud of him coming from a place like Santo Antonio and going to the biggest football club in the world. Not everyone born in a village like this can play for such a big club. It was in the under-11s that he really shone. Against Camacha, who were then the best team on the island, Cristiano's Nacional side came back from 2-0 down to win 3-2. He scored the second and made the third. He gave his team the belief that they could win. When they lost, he would cry." Jose has watched his son play at Old Trafford but has no plans to move to Manchester. He can barely watch his son play on television because he becomes so nervous. When Cristiano took his penalty in the shoot-out with England, Jose admitted that he looked away from the television. "I just waited for the crowd to react," he said, "the whole room shouted: `Goal.' " Last Christmas Ferguson gave Ronaldo two weeks off to visit his family in Madeira, although he will be lucky to get any rest this summer after being selected to represent Portugal's under-20s at the Olympic Games. In the meantime, his father has become the closest the island has to a celebrity resident. Cars toot their horns in recognition as they pass him in the street. "At United, Cristiano's best friend is Eric Djemba-Djemba," Jose said. "He picks him up for training and drives him around. I've met Ferguson and spoken to him through the Brazilian translator at the club. Ferguson is an exceptional person. My son has a second father in Manchester who looks after him." By the time Cristiano reached nine, the island's two biggest clubs, Nacional and Maritimo, wanted to sign him. Andorinha's president, Rui Santos, had little say in the decision. The boy's godfather, Fernao Sousa, had a connection with Nacional and Maria Dolores insisted that her son play there or give up football. In return, Andorinha received two sets of kit for their youngest teams. Santos was philosophical about the loss of his star player. "Nacional just had better resources to develop him as a player and allow him to make that step further," he said. In the black-and-white stripes of Nacional, Cristiano's reputation as Madeira's best young footballer grew and by the time he was 11, Sporting, one of Portugal's three biggest clubs, offered to take him to their academy. With financial problems, Nacional were in no position to refuse: the price this time was �350, two sets of kit and the waiving of a few small debts. It was then that life became difficult. At 11, Cristiano was a year younger than the other boys at the academy and was picked on for his Madeira accent. Homesick, he became a "rebel", Santos said. In one dispute at school he threw a chair at a teacher for a perceived slur on his Madeira heritage. Santos said: "It got to the stage where it was so bad that Sporting were thinking of throwing him out, so it was decided he and his mother should move into an apartment in Lisbon. There was a time during that period when he came back to Madeira for a holiday and didn't want to go back to Lisbon. His godfather had to persuade him. "By the time he was 16 he had settled down but it was only because of his mother that he stayed at Sporting. I don't think he would have been the footballer he has become if she hadn't gone out to live with him. He loves her very much." The transfer to United came as a surprise to the people of Madeira, but they also feel short-changed by the �2.25 million deal. Cristiano's original club, Andorinha, should, under Portugal football federation rules, be entitled to a small percentage of that fee � about �70,000. However, they lost a recent ruling in which Sporting and the federation sided against them. Santos said the club were considering legal action to claim the money, which would pay for a new pitch. One that would be named, naturally, after the island's most famous son. "The most important thing for him to do now is to win Euro 2004 and dedicate the victory to the people of Madeira," Jose said. "To dedicate it to the land he was born in and the people who have supported him."

_________________________________________________________________________________________ First interview about ManUtd

ManUtd.com spoke first with new �12.24m signing Cristiano Ronaldo, United�s
18-year-old capture from Sporting Lisbon. Far from being overawed
by being compared to Brazil�s Ronaldo and wanting to make an
immediate impact, United could have their hands on a star in the making�

How does it feel to have signed for Manchester United?
"I am very happy to have signed for Manchester United, and very proud to be
part of what I think is the best team in the world."

You have been dubbed �The Portuguese Ronaldo� referring to Real Madrid�s
Brazilian forward. How do you feel about such an accolade?
"It�s normal, it�s no problem for me. But I don�t want to be compared to
anyone � I�d like to impose my own style of play and do the best for
myself and for the club here."

Would you be able to describe you style of play
for fans who have perhaps not seen you play?
"I prefer other people to make judgements about the way I play and to
characterise me, rather me describe myself."

What are your first impressions of the club,
the stadium and training facilities?
"I am feeling delighted, it�s a big stadium. The facilities here are
excellent and I have been received well by everyone here. I hope to play
and help the team achieve everything it wants."

How big a decision was it to move to England at such a young age?
"It was always going to be a strange decision but when a club of the
stature of Manchester United come in for you and want to sign you, you don�t
think twice."

Have you spoken to the manager and if so what has he said to you?
"Yes, I spoke with Sir Alex Ferguson and he told me all about the club
and said to me to just be calm, be tranquil and then things will happen
naturally."

Did you think when you played against United last Wednesday
that in under a week you would become a United player?
"No, no. It never crossed my mind!"

At 18 do you consider yourself a player for the future here at United,
or do you hope to make an immediate impact?
"From now I would like to make an impact and make sure the people
that have put faith in me are proved right."

Interview by Ben Hibbs.

_________________________________________________________________________________________ That interview with Julie Hawkins(Lying Bitch!!!)

Exclusive by Georgina Dickinson:

Soccer whizzkid Cristiano Ronaldo went bananas for love as he sat next to
stunning Julie Hawkins watching monkeys mating on telly.

At least the Portuguese Man United star, who spoke very little English,
could let his pretty new date know just what he wanted.
As the primates romped in the rainforest canopy on his hotel room TV, 19 year old Ronaldo
started going ape,
jumping up and down and pointing to the screen.

"All he kept saying was 'Hot, Julie, hot'" Giggled the blonde
who was asked out by Ronaldo through his interpreter,
"then he began tickling me, pretending to be a monkey,
so i tickled him back."

Within seconds she found herself being stripped naked
and carried off into the jungles of joy.

Stallion

"He was the best endowed man i've ever been with.
It was like all my dreams had come true,"
sighed the 24 year-old trainee primary school teacher.
"We made love on his bed to the sound of mating monkeys."

And what the teen sensation lacked with words
he made up with in actions.

"We'd only switched the TV on beacause we couldn't understand eachother
but when it came to sex we spoke the same language," said Julie,
"As he stripped me, he looked at my thighs and gasped,
'you, footballer', when he saw how toned they were.

"When i mimed riding a horse to show him how i'd got them that way,
it seemed to excite him all the more.

"He indicated that he wanted to make love with me on top,
with my thighs gripping him, like riding a stallion,
and i willingly obliged.

"His body was gorgeous and his fitness level was amazing.
He kept me moaning for hours."

The Old Trafford winger also loved monkeying around in the shower with Julie.
But the player, who has faced accusations of diving in the
Premiership, found it hard to keep his feet even without a referee watching.
In fact everytime he was within scoring range he simply fell over.

"He just couldn't keep his balance," said Julie,
"we'd be about to have sex then he'd slip, so we had a bath instead.

"There was plenty of room to move around,
and once again he asked me to get in on top of him.
There was water everywhere at the end."

Julie met the �17.5 million Portuguese wonderkid last September
in a crowded restaurant. Ronaldo was dining with his family,
but couldn't take his eyes off her 32F-20-32 figure.

"He kept looking at me but i didn't have a clue who he was,"
says Julie of Altrincham, Cheshire. I thought he was very cute,
apart from his hair, which looked like it had beansprouts hanging out the front.

"Days later i saw in a magazine who he was so i gave my number to a friend
at Man United and asked him to pass it on."

Julie did not have to wait long.
But because Ronaldo could hardly speak English, it was his interpreter who called her mobile.

_________________________________________________________________________________________ Girls,Girls,Girls

Portuguese pin-up Cristiano Ronaldo hides away from his female fans
in Manchester because they are making his life hell.
The teenage winger locks himself away to avoid the unwanted attention
of his admirers. And when the eligible bachelor does venture out into the city,
he disguises himself with dark glasses and a baseball cap pulled down over his face.
His sister Liliana offers a revealing glimpse of Ronaldo's lifestyle
and admits the United teenager is often too scared to leave his own home.
She said: "He has no problem pulling the girls but he runs a mile when they
come near him. He's suspicious, because they go up to him a lot now he is so
well known. Since he arrived in Manchester last summer
he has not had a steady girlfriend - he doesn't have time for that now.�

(taken from a newspaper article)

_________________________________________________________________________________________ How he wants to be remembered

He's the latest superstar to wear that famous United No.7 shirt,
but Cristiano Ronaldo wants to be remembered as the best of the lot.

Cristiano Ronaldo is a footballer who breaks the mould
but this is not suprising.

Raised in a tin-roofed shack on a free-spirited island 5000 miles
south-west of Portugal you could say that being different
is in this young man's blood.

Madeira- known as the pearl of the Atlantic in the tourist brochures -has
approximately 250,000 inhabitants and a growing number of them support a
campaign for independance from almost 200 years of Portugese rule.

They believe they should have their own national football team
and compete on the world stage in their own right.

The eighteen-year-old winger, of course,
is considerably more worried about cementing his place In Manchester United's first-team than politics
- but he displays the same proud sense of self identity
as his fellow islanders.

Ronaldo's background helps to explain why he is one of a kind.
The youngster himself refuses to be compared with anybody- especially
David Beckham, the man whose legendary number 7 shirt he inherited following a
�12.2 m move to Old Trafford last August.

He told Shoot Monthly: " When I first arrived at United there was lots of
talk about being 'The new Beckham' but I was never worried about the
expectations because they are generated by other people.

"I came here to do my own job, to focus on football and to train hard.
It's what I'm doing".

Indeed, the former Sporting Lisbon prodigy is getting used to being
mentioned in the same breath as the giants of the game.
In Portugal the media have long regarded him as a potential successor to another of Real
Madrid's "galacticos", the mercurial Luis Figo.
Given his taste for stepovers and general trickery , the comparisons are inevitable..
Yet Ronaldo does not take kindly to suggestions he might have aped
one of his nation's idols.

"The way I play comes naturally to me," he snapped.
"It wasn't something I copied from Figo.
Obviously you can learn something from all players but
I have my own style."

And any hint his flamboyance is not necessarily ideal for the more practical
demands of English Football is swatted aside with similar
irritation. "I think thew way I play is well suited to the Premiership and
there are no problems with it," he declared.

A Dream Come True.

The lad is living the dream and is understandably protective of it.
Sporting's "development partnership" with United,
outstanding performances at the Toulon Under-20 tournament in summer 2002 and
a virtuoso display infront of Sir Alex Ferguson at a pre-season friendly in Lisbon
(soon after Ronaldinho's on-off move to Old Trafford finally collapsed)
all combined to give him the chance of a lifetime.

Ronaldo is determined to seize the moment.
His days outside the big-time remain fresh in his mind and he only has to return to
his origins in Funchal, the capital of Madeira, to be reminded of them.
Perched on a hill, the family home is worth just �4000 and to reach it
he must trample over rotted vegetation and broken masonry. The back wall is crumbling,
the wooden slats have holes in them
and the ramshackle corrugated iron roof is in need of attention.

Ronaldo started out at amateur team Andorinhas,
where his father was the kit man, then moved to Madeira's second side,
Nacional, in exchange for a hefty supply of boots and jerseys.
Snapped up by Sporting in 1997, he was paid only a few hundred pounds a month
as recently as six months ago, when he had only just broken into the first-team.

Now he earns �30,000 a week and turns up at work to recieve instruction
from Ferguson and train alongside the 'other Rs', Rio Ferdinand,
Ryan Giggs, Roy Keane and Ruud Van Nistelrooy.

"When I was growing up in Funchal I never thought I would end up playing
for a club like United." he admitted. "There's absolutely
nothing the same about Madeira and Manchester. They are completely
different in every respect; the food, the weather and the people. In the
same way as Madeira and Manchester have nothing in common, Sporting
and United are also poles apart. They are both big clubs, but United is
simply massive. Moving has been an enormous change for me.

"Ferguson, who is nothing like your typical Madeira local, has already
taught me a lot. I pick up something new from him in training every day.
And I'm always learning the language from being around the other
players. They have helped me settle in. I wouldn't want to single out one
in particular but Kleberson speaks Portugese which has been an incredibly
big help.

"Van Nistelrooy is the best striker I've ever played with. I know Mario
Jardel from Sporting but Ruud is better than him
and would score even more goals in the Portugese League."

Ronaldo appears to be caught up in something of a whirlwind,
still coming to terms with what it means to have an important role with
the Premiership Champions.

Sir Alex himself has already gone on record as saying
that history may soon recognise him as one of the Old Trafford Greats.

He said: "There have been some famous players at this club
(who have worn no.7). Eric Cantona, Bryan Robson and David Beckham have held the jersey
over my time at the club. I think it was appropriate that a young player
like Ronaldo should take it because hopefully he's going to be at this
club for a long, long time."

Ear-marked as a long-term prospect, Ronaldo himself seems determined to
promote himself as a player for the present rather than the future. His 28-
minute debut against Bolton set the standard, so too his first goal for
United against Portsmouth at the start of November and the impact he made
against Rangers in the Champions League.

Proof, if any were needed, that the boy is about to become a man.

"It's a privalige for me to be at a club as great as this,"
added Ronaldo. "I'm going to try and emulate the players who have been here
and match what they have done. I hope to answer everything that's asked of
me.

"This is the greatest club in the world.
To play at Manchester United is a dream come true for me."

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