At Juventus Cristiano Ronaldo may have finally found the home he's longed for

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  • Icon of Turin: Cristiano Ronaldo.

    A world-record 80,000 spectators turned up at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2009 to witness Cristiano Ronaldo‘s unveiling as a Real Madrid player. The audience surpassed that which greeted Diego Maradona upon his arrival at Napoli 25 years earlier.

    In many ways, it was the highlight of Ronaldo’s complicated relationship with the Bernabeu faithful. He was the latest recipient of the prestigious Ballon d’Or, recognising him as the world’s best player and making him all the more appealing to the Madridistas.

    Having watched as Pep Guardiola assembled an unstoppable force at Barcelona, Madrid needed to respond and following his exploits at Manchester United, including a Champions League triumph, Ronaldo fitted the bill. Above all though, he was meant to be their answer to Lionel Messi.

    The bar was set impossibly high from the outset but Ronaldo consistently met expectations with his output, pushing the envelope even further and smashing numerous records along the way. But the Bernabeu is an unforgiving arena and its demanding occupants will tolerate no less than complete domination over every opponent which enters their lair.

    If you had to engineer the perfect modern day forward, Ronaldo would be the closest thing, but despite his incredible ability and phenomenal returns, he was not immune to the fans’ – often irrational – discontent. He won four more Ballon d’Or titles during his nine-year stay at Madrid, yet endured many more occasions when his own supporters turned against him.

    Why don't you love me? Ronaldo wasn't always in favour among Madrid fans.

    Why don’t you love me? Ronaldo wasn’t always in favour among Madrid fans.

    For a player so revered and celebrated at Old Trafford, and one with an ego boosted by his countless accomplishments, it never sat well. Despite the numerous accolades, Ronaldo never felt fully appreciated at the club and sought to seek recognition in financial terms instead.

    The Portuguese often voiced his sadness ahead of new contract negotiations or even refused to celebrate after scoring, claiming he didn’t feel like it because he wasn’t happy. The fact he isn’t Spanish always meant the fans kept him at arm’s length as well and rumours of disputes with the likes of Sergio Ramos would see the media turn against him.

    For one reason or another, Ronaldo never felt completely at home in Madrid, often reminiscing about his time at United.

    It’s no wonder then that it was the applause from opposing fans last season which seemed to evoke a sense of allegiance in Ronaldo that for a long time was dormant. His extraordinary bicycle kick goal against Juventus during the Champions League quarter-final first leg in Turin was greeted by a standing ovation from the home support.

    “When I was a kid, I liked Juventus and the fact that their fans have applauded me will stay with me,” Ronaldo said when reflecting on the goal.

    The 33-year-old has since admitted that it played a big part in his decision to join the Serie A giants.

    “I would say what I saw in the stadium helped [the transfer],” Ronaldo said upon his unveiling as DAZN’s first Global Ambassador.

    It’s somewhat poetic that arguably his finest moment in a Madrid shirt would initiate his move away from the club.

    Ronaldo received a royal reception when he landed in Italy over the summer to complete his transfer with fans lining up for a glimpse of their new hero as they immediately embraced him as one of their own.

    But while the Old Lady may be delighted with his arrival this summer, Turin could so easily have been his home 15 years ago. Juventus were reportedly among the clubs interested in signing him from Sporting Lisbon before his move to United. However, Marcelo Salas’ refusal to move in the other direction derailed an initial agreement for the transfer.

    In light of that, Ronaldo’s homecoming this weekend when Juventus host Lazio is well overdue. His Allianz Stadium bow marks the beginning of what could be a lifelong relationship with the Bianconeri fans. The forward is determined to repay the faith they have already shown in him and with their backing, he will be spurred on to prolong his career at the highest level.

    After a volatile relationship with the Madridistas over the years, Ronaldo will relish the prospect of being loved and adored. It could be the start of a beautiful friendship and in Turin, he may just feel at home again.

    Perhaps Nike’s enormous billboard on the side of a building in Turin’s Piazza Vittorio Veneto says it best as the player attempts to make a fresh start in more comfortable surroundings, amidst accepting fans.

    After listing Ronaldo’s numerous feats, the final line simply concludes: “Now forget everything, and start again.”

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