Cristiano Ronaldo explains why he left Manchester United for Real Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo joined Real Madrid from Manchester United in 2009. (Source: Reuters)

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo on Wednesday explained why he left his former club Manchester United for Spanish giants Real Madrid and expressed his desire to continue playing for the Santiago Bernabeu club.

Writing in The Players’ Tribune, the four-time Ballon d’Or winner said that even though his contract with the Old Trafford club was a moment of pride for him and his family, his dreams kept getting bigger, despite the 32-year old winning laurels at the Premier League club.

Ronaldo wrote, “I started dreaming bigger and bigger. I wanted to play for the national team, and I wanted to play for Manchester, because I watched the Premier League on TV all the time. I was mesmerized by how fast the game moved and the songs that the crowds would sing. The atmosphere was so moving to me. When I became a player for Manchester, it was a very proud moment for me, but I think it was an even prouder moment for my family.”

Speaking of his desire to play for a more challenging club, Ronaldo continued, “At first, winning trophies was very emotional for me. I remember when I won my first Champions League trophy at Manchester, it was an overwhelming feeling. Same thing with my first Ballon d’Or. But my dreams kept getting bigger. That’s the point of dreams, right? I had always admired Madrid, and I wanted a new challenge. I wanted to win trophies at Madrid, and break all the records, and become a club legend.”

“Over the past eight years, I have achieved incredible things at Madrid. But to be honest, winning trophies later on in my career has become a different kind of emotion. Especially in these last two years. At Madrid, if you don’t win everything, other people consider it a failure. This is the expectation of greatness. This is my job.”