Chapter 24
After returning to the club, Cristiano first went to report to Ferguson.
He walked into Ferguson's office and saw Ferguson staring at the Champions League photo hanging on the wall.
"Boss." Cristiano strode over with the energy of a young man. He jumped and hugged Sir Alex Ferguson quickly and vigorously. "I'm back."
Ferguson smiled and hugged the boy back: "Congratulations, my child, how does it feel to hold the trophy?"
"Great," Cristiano replied cheerfully, "This is what I've always been looking for."
"That's great." Ferguson responded. He looked at Cristiano calmly. The young No. 7 in front of him seemed to have said "Glory to Manchester United" in the stands just yesterday.
Who would have thought that in just less than two years, this child who was less than 20 years old had achieved such amazing results.
He has always known that Manchester United could not keep Cristiano, but now, he is wondering whether that day will come sooner.
Ferguson smiled at Chris and said, "In the future, you will face more temptations, including a resounding fame, the promise of supreme ball rights, and a club more glittering than Manchester United opening its arms to you... I just hope that you, my child, remember your heart and what you really enjoy."
Ferguson squeezed Cristiano's shoulder lightly and poked his chest with his fingers.
Cristiano was slightly stunned when he heard this. He had no memory of Sir Alex Ferguson having such a conversation with him. The only similar conversation was when he wanted to go to Real Madrid that year and strive for higher goals.
That time Ferguson did not agree to his request, but instead asked him to stay at Manchester United for another year and bring back another gold trophy for Manchester United.
Cristiano agreed. He would never refuse Sir Alex's request, no matter whether he was 23 or 37 years old.
A year later, he fulfilled that promise, Ferguson opened his arms to him and pushed him to Real Madrid.
That was the last time he stood in Ferguson's office. Ferguson said to him: "My child, I hope you can become the greatest player in the pursuit of victory, but don't forget that love is your heart. If you are not happy, then come back. I promise you that Manchester United will always be your home."
Cristiano still remembers that he cried uncontrollably at the age of 24, but was finally comforted by Sir Alex.
He put away his memories and looked at Sir Alex Ferguson in front of him. He couldn't help but wonder why Ferguson suddenly brought up this this time? He hasn't had any thoughts of leaving yet.
He blinked, the doubt in his eyes was almost written on his face, and Ferguson also saw the big boy's confusion. He felt relieved and couldn't help laughing: "It's nothing, my child, I'm just old and want to talk about some big truths."
If it was the real 19-year-old Cristiano, he would probably believe Ferguson's explanation, but the Cristiano in front of him was familiar with Ferguson, and he would not believe that the Sir would suddenly waste his breath on these things. Years of getting along with him had made him understand that Sir Ferguson would never say a word of nonsense.
Cristiano's eyes moved around and then fell on the large print on the newspapers on the desk. He raised his eyebrows. There must be at least four or five newspapers.
He grabbed it and read the headline: "Ronaldo scored a goal, ran 50 meters and blew a kiss to AC Milan. Is it suspected that the club will change hands soon?"
"AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti valued the Portuguese golden boy so much that he travelled thousands of miles to watch the game and left with satisfaction after the match."
"The boy who lifted the gold cup, Real Madrid offered him a whopping 70 million!"
Ferguson: “…”
He could see the obvious mockery and ridicule on the boy's face. Ferguson rolled his eyes and snatched the hand from the boy. "I have to make it clear that today's conversation has nothing to do with these nonsense things."
"I know that the great King of Old Trafford certainly won't believe these groundless things." Cristiano replied, but his tone made Ferguson's fists harden.
Ferguson did not believe these reports, but he also knew that Ronaldo, who won the Delaunay Cup at the age of 19 with outstanding personal achievements, was very different from the path he had imagined for the boy.
He had thought about letting the boy stay here for six or seven years. He would teach the boy all the skills he could use and let the boy lead Manchester United to achieve supreme glory again. Manchester United would become the most colorful period of the boy's adolescence. They could become a closer relationship than the one between coach and player.
Ferguson made no secret of his admiration and love for Cristiano, who he fell in love with at first sight. In less than two years of spending time together, he already regarded Cristiano as his little grandson.
But now, he doesn't think Cristiano will stay at Manchester United for that long, but he will definitely not leave immediately as the tabloids say. He knows that the boy he likes is not so rash and impulsive.
But he felt a little melancholy at the moment.
It's like the feeling of a grandfather sending his grandson to go to college in a city far away from home.
He couldn't guarantee that if Chris really went to another club in the future, he would not want to steal the boy back.
Ferguson withdrew his thoughts, crossed his chest and looked at the boy. Perhaps he was embarrassed by Chris's gaze, so he changed the subject - he had a feeling that there was some secret here -
"Then you'd better explain why there is a 50-meter run?"
Cristiano: “…”
He chuckled and raised his eyebrows tentatively as if jokingly: "Suppose there is someone I like there?"
"Okay, bad boy, go and train." Ferguson didn't believe this nonsense and waved his hand to drive the man away.
Cristiano breathed a sigh of relief, licked his lips, and walked out with a smile.
When he reached the door, he stopped again, turned his head to look at Ferguson, and said suddenly: "Sir, I don't plan to leave Manchester United, you know, at least not so soon."
"I want to win a Ballon d'Or at Manchester United, and win the Premier League, Champions League, Club World Cup, FA Cup... every league and cup title for Manchester United. Only then, perhaps, will I be satisfied and sprint to a bigger stage."
Ferguson was stunned for a moment when he heard this. He looked at Cristiano and saw the shocking ambition in the young boy's eyes.
Somehow, he felt that Cristiano would do it.
"Okay Chris." Ferguson responded. He stroked the metal Manchester United badge on the table and smiled, as if responding to the promise the boy made to him when they first met. He said, "Well, Manchester United will witness your glory."
Cristiano nodded solemnly to Sir Alex Ferguson.
Although this expression on the face of a teenager with a little baby fat seemed somewhat funny rather than serious, Ferguson's smile deepened even more, and he drove Chris out before he could break his composure and be amused.
Cristiano is back in training.
Winning the European Cup seemed to have brought about a subtle change in his situation in the locker room, but it also seemed not to have changed. Keane and Ferdinand came to congratulate him on his award first.
Then Rooney also came. As an England striker, Rooney contributed four goals in the European Cup, the same number as the Dutchman Van Nistelrooy. He congratulated Cristiano on the trophy with some envy, and then said: "I didn't meet you this time. Next time we will compete to see who scores the other goal first."
Cristiano smiled and said: "Maybe it will happen in the World Cup year."
"Then I won't let him go," Rooney said.
"You won't. Neither will I." Cristiano raised his eyebrows. "We'll do what we have to do, but that won't change our relationship as teammates at the club, right?"
Rooney nodded: "Of course."
Cristiano spread his hands: "That's it."
Rooney touched his hair, feeling as if he hadn't hit the point, and had a feeling of being light and empty, but he hadn't figured out what was wrong.
Before he could figure it out, Fanny came back from outside.
Everyone could see that he was in a bad mood. He did not hide his displeasure and slammed the closet door in the dressing room shut.
Keane frowned: "What are you doing?"
"Nothing." Van Nistelrooy didn't say anything. He changed his clothes and turned away, as if he didn't even see Cristiano in the locker room.
Cristiano had an animal-like intuition. He guessed that this had something to do with himself. Just like in their previous life, their relationship was sometimes awkward and cold, and sometimes the ice was broken. However, he knew that Van Nistelrooy was just like him, he just had a strong obsession with the ball. After leaving Manchester United, their relationship was actually better than when they were teammates.
He ignored all this and instead pulled the goalkeeper to practice his shooting.
The club's game schedule is very tight, and coupled with training, they are completely pushed forward.
In the next few games, Cristiano noticed that Van Nistelrooy was blocking him, as if he couldn't see him on the court, which hindered their cooperation.
Obviously, Ferguson was quite dissatisfied with this. In the locker room during several halftime breaks, everyone was subjected to his angry roars and scoldings, even Cristiano was sprayed once.
Cristiano wiped his face. In fact, judging from the control of the ball in recent games, he almost understood the reason for Van Nistelrooy's change of attitude.
Ferguson has probably had several related conversations with Van Nistelrooy. Just like Manchester United in the past, Ferguson wants to build a team with Cristiano as the core, and correspondingly, Van Nistelrooy's power has been weakened and infringed. It is no wonder that Van Nistelrooy dislikes him.
Cristiano could only shrug his shoulders. Ferguson was the only person in power at Manchester United, and what he said was final. Besides, Cristiano believed that he deserved it. He would not be humble or courteous. What belonged to him was his.
"Randy is a good man. We never said bad things about each other after he left the team. He even praised me." Cristiano said when he was chatting with Kaka on the phone as a young couple. He was referring to the previous life. "But our relationship in the team is always so awkward. Maybe it's because we have too many excellent forwards?"
Ruud van Nistelrooy, Rooney and him, seriously, let's have a fight.
"I hope we can live in peace, at least I won't be scolded by Sir Alex." Cristiano whispered with a pout.
Kaka listened to his lover's little troubles and smiled, knowing that Cristiano was not seeking any advice from him, but was just simply worried.
As Cristiano's lover, there is only one thing he needs to do - make him forget this bad thing.
He soaked in the warm pool. "Cris, I really hope I'm the only one who's bothering you so much."
“…”
"You let others occupy so much of your mind that even half of the time you talk to your lover on the phone is spent talking about another man, Cris. This makes people jealous." Kaka whispered.
Cristiano choked and coughed. He pinched the tip of his nose with a dry laugh and said, "You won't do that."
"Of course I will." Kaka said, with a playful smile in his eyes, but he said in a deep voice, "Cris, I'm soaking in the pool, talking on the phone with my beloved, but I have to listen to another man's name frequently appearing in my ears..."
Cristiano swallowed subconsciously, and the corresponding picture immediately appeared in his mind.
He immediately threw Fanny behind his mind, and he climbed out of bed and said quickly and quietly: "Wait a minute, Kaka, I also want to... take a bath."
Kaka paused, and a smile flashed in his eyes: his goal was achieved.
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