Chapter 293
The next day, Cristiano returned to Carrington, the heart of Manchester United.
Returning to this familiar place again, some things here have changed, but there are still many things that are extremely familiar to him.
Teammates, familiar or unfamiliar, were waiting for Cristiano to come on the training turf at Carrington. After a lively welcome ceremony, Giggs and Ferdinand pulled Cristiano to a young boy.
"Look, Ronnie, who is this? Do you remember?" Ferdinand raised the corner of his mouth and pointed at the typical blond hair and blue-eyed young man in front of him.
The young man blushed slightly, feeling a little nervous and uneasy. He stared at Cristiano with his eyes wide open. Just as he was about to say something, Ferdinand covered his mouth.
Cristiano twitched his lips, not knowing whether to laugh or cry: "...Leo, what are you doing?"
Giggs joked: "This is the kid you kidnapped. He stayed in Manchester United's youth training camp wholeheartedly and was only promoted to the first team this year."
"It's great to see you here." Cristiano laughed when he heard it. He pulled Ferdinand's hand away, looked at Ferdinand with amusement, then turned to the young man in front of him, raised the corners of his mouth and opened his arms to give him a tight hug, "Arthur. So what position are you playing now? Midfielder?"
"You still remember me!" The young boy called Arthur's eyes lit up. He immediately hugged Cristiano back excitedly and almost jumped up with joy. "Oh my God, this is like a dream!"
Even remember he wanted to be a midfielder!
"Of course I remember. Didn't you say you would pass me a lot of balls?" Cristiano was amused. He patted the young boy on the back and thought to himself that the young man was so strong that he almost suffocated him.
Arthur gasped in disbelief, clearly enough for everyone to hear, and the noise was so loud that everyone in the room couldn't help but burst into laughter.
The young midfielder's cheerful look made Ferguson shake his head helplessly.
He coughed, calling the attention of the players on the field: "Okay boys, the welcome ceremony is over here. I believe you will get along well soon. Now get moving."
Ferguson's words were the highest instructions, and everyone took action immediately. Arthur stuck close to Cristiano, like Cristiano's shadow. He did whatever the Portuguese did, leaving Ferguson with no way to deal with him.
"Don't think he's a clingy, childish guy during training." Giggs walked to Cristiano's side after training, raised his chin, and gestured to Arthur who was changing clothes in front of the wardrobe. "He's like a meat grinder on the court. He plays very wildly, not afraid of anyone, has a good sense of the ball, and was promoted to the first team by the boss."
Cristiano looked at Arthur and smiled, "Talented midfielder?"
"Hmph, that's all." Giggs snorted, but also raised the corners of his mouth slightly, "He still has a lot to learn and improve, a long way to go."
"But he only sticks to you. He wasn't like this before you came." Ferdinand added casually, "It's true that he likes to ask questions. Sometimes I don't know whether he came to the first team to play football or to chase stars. Ryan was so annoyed in the first few days after he arrived that he almost beat him up."
Cristiano blinked. "What did he ask?"
"What else can you ask?" Giggs rolled his eyes, then turned his head and called out to Arthur, "Hey kid, Ronnie is right here, why don't you ask?"
Arthur quickly changed his clothes, pants and shoes, and used hairspray to style his hair like the most fashionable British star: "Here I come! Um...Cristiano, can I invite you to dinner tonight?"
Giggs and Ferdinand looked at each other and grinned.
"How dare you, inviting me to dinner on the first day we met? Kid, you are too impatient." Giggs teased.
"It's not the first day we've known each other." Arthur retorted, "And I'm not a child anymore. I'm an adult."
Giggs raised his eyebrows.
Cristiano smiled with his eyes curved. He rubbed Arthur's hair twice and said, "I really want to agree, but I have to pick up a very important person today. Next time, Arthur, come to my house next time? We can talk about many things about football. You can ask me anything you want to know, and I will be happy to tell you."
Cristiano saw the light in the young boy's eyes dim for a moment, but soon it brightened again.
"Okay Chris!"
Giggs heard Cristiano talking about picking someone up and couldn't help but narrow his eyes: "Who are you going to pick up tonight? Oh wait...it can't be...wait a minute, is that true? Is he really coming over?"
Cristiano curled his lips: "I guess this is good news?"
Giggs knew it was a positive signal. He was a little surprised but not that surprised: "...I guess so."
Manchester United's current lineup is hard to compare with the Manchester United that won three consecutive championships. After Cristiano left, they introduced many players, but similarly, many players left or retired, or were injured.
Last season, they still had Van Persie in the frontcourt - but now he is also seriously injured and has been out for most of the season - as for their midfield and defenders, there are only a few who can support them. Vidic's toughness in confrontation is not as good as it used to be, Evra's flanks are often broken through, and most of the players are facing problems of age and injuries, and can no longer bring this Red Devils back to its past glory.
Being able to maintain the top four in the Premier League, still have a chance to play in the Champions League, and win the League Cup... these are already the best efforts that this Premier League giant can make now.
Cristiano looked at Giggs and smiled and said: "I said I came here to go further and better with this team. This is not an empty talk, Ryan."
"Okay, I have to pick him up, I'm leaving first." Cristiano glanced at the time, then waved and left quickly.
Ferdinand looked at the Portuguese's hurried back, he stroked his chin, then glanced at the young midfielder who was still happy about the dinner that Cristiano had agreed to, and grinned. He wanted to know if Arthur would still be so happy when he found that there was a third person there when he went to the dinner appointment.
On the last day of the summer transfer window, Manchester United officially announced their last signing of the summer - former Real Madrid midfielder superstar, Kaka.
#Ronaldo and Kaka meet at Manchester United! Can the former Real Madrid twin stars continue to shine in Manchester night? #
#Kaka joins Manchester United! AC Milan did not make an offer for Kaka#
#The two most explosive deals in this summer's transfer market! The Red Devils made strong signings#
When Kaka just entered Manchester United's locker room, he felt several gazes that were not friendly but not hostile were focused on him. Before he had time to look over, he was pulled in by Cristiano.
"Welcome to Manchester United! Kaka!" Cristiano gave his lover a big hug.
Cristiano blocked all those scrutinizing gazes.
"So this is 'that' Kaka." Evra covered his mouth and whispered to his teammates.
"Yes." Rooney nodded, rubbing his chin, "She looks pretty good, right?"
Evra nodded. He had been reminded of how good their Portuguese relations were with each other, but he was still a little surprised when he saw it.
Rooney patted Evra on the shoulder: "When you came to Manchester United, Ronnie had already become much more restrained and stable. Didn't you see that two years ago, this guy went to watch AC Milan's Champions League final and even sat among the Liverpool fans. He almost scared us to death."
Evra choked. Speaking of which, he seemed to have some impression. One of the headlines that year was that AC Milan turned the tide and won the championship, and the other was that the Portuguese appeared in the stands of their arch-rivals Liverpool.
He couldn't help but look at Cristiano. It seemed that he had indeed restrained himself a lot.
Cristiano took Kaka to see his wardrobe and pointed out to Kaka the location of his previous wardrobe - Manchester United's locker room has been renovated, and the layout is very different from what Cristiano remembered - the two of them seemed to have endless little chatter.
"What a good relationship." Vidic said with a slight sigh when he saw this.
"They have been teammates at Real Madrid for six years." Alan took a look and said, "It would be strange if they didn't have a good relationship."
Rooney looked at Alan and Vidic, then at Cristiano, and finally said nothing. He just rolled his eyes and walked out of the locker room quickly, calling out to everyone else: "Hurry up and gather, the boss is going to get angry!"
"No, the boss has been in a very good mood these days. Even if you are lazy, the most he can do is ask you to run a few more laps." Giggs teased, "You know, his little Ronnie is back, which should be enough to keep the old man in a good mood until the new season starts."
Rooney paused after hearing this and agreed with it deeply.
As for why it is until the beginning of the new season, it is probably because their opening game will be very difficult and the Portuguese will obviously be the target.
This is the Premier League, which is completely different from La Liga in terms of intensity.
Rooney then thought happily in his heart, maybe Kaka has never experienced the intensity of the Premier League? May God bless him.
Although Manchester United's performance has been declining in recent years, the two focus transfer deals of Manchester United this summer have really excited all the fans, and they seem to have seen a new crossroads.
The Premier League has always been very dense, and not long after the summer window closed, Manchester United faced their new signings in their first match.
Manchester United vs Chelsea, home game.
This game was Cristiano's first show after his return, and no one could steal the sole focus of the game.
The streets surrounding Old Trafford are all painted with Cristiano's return posters. The once young Portuguese golden boy who had just arrived from Lisbon and now the perfect Ballon d'Or winner who has won six Ballon d'Ors, everything seems like a blink of an eye between yesterday and today.
Fans walked through the streets wearing Red Devils jerseys with Ronaldo and the number 7 printed on them, celebrating the upcoming return debut.
When Cristiano appeared in the player tunnel, the entire Old Trafford was filled with cheers that seemed to overturn the stadium, and the fans almost couldn't wait to sing the songs they wrote for Cristiano.
"Viva Ronaldo, Viva Ronaldo!"
"Running down the wing, hear United sing,"
"Viva Ronaldo!"
Ferdinand stood behind Cristiano. He raised his hand and put it on Cristiano's shoulder. He smiled and whispered, "How does it feel, Ronnie?"
"...Just like yesterday." Cristiano also laughed, he turned his head to look at Ferdinand, "A little nervous, Leo, I hope I can score a goal today."
Ferdinand opened his arms and hugged Cristiano, just like before. He pinched Cristiano's cheek and said with a smile: "Even if there is no goal, they still love you, Ronnie, don't be nervous, we are here, just like before."
Cristiano nodded, his mouth wide open. His face was deformed by Ferdinand's pinching, but he also laughed with his eyes curved, not dodging at all.
"Thank you, Leo, it means a lot to me." He lowered his head and buried it in his hands, whispering.
Giggs rubbed Cristiano's head twice. Rooney, Alan, Evra and others also came over to tease the Portuguese who was rarely seen. Rooney grinned and pulled Cristiano: "Ronnie, let me see if you are crying?"
Alan slapped Rooney's head when he heard this, and Evra pointed at Rooney with a red forehead and laughed.
"Go to hell with Vazza." Cristiano cursed with a smile.
Rooney spread his hands and said speechlessly: "I just said it casually!"
Arthur came over and said quickly, "I'll pass you lots and lots of balls Chris!"
"You little brat, you have no respect for your parents." Ferdinand slapped the boy, pushed Arthur away, and told him to stand where he should. "We're going out now, don't crowd in with us."
Kaka was squeezed so hard that he couldn't get close to Cristiano at all. He even felt that Ferdinand and his men were pushing him away.
He looked at Cristiano across several players, and Cristiano was also looking over and smiling at him with his eyes curved.
"Kaka! Are you ready?" Cristiano was about to walk towards Kaka when Ferdinand and Giggs grabbed his collar and pulled him back.
"Ronnie, I'm going out now. Stay away and stay still." Giggs held down the restless little curly-haired boy's head and said, "You're even more troublesome than when we were little."
Cristiano choked: "...When I was a child? Ryan, your description is really..."
"Cute. Ryan, tell me more next time. You didn't even tell me this." Arthur said from the side.
Cristiano followed suit and flicked Arthur's forehead with his fingers bent: "Get out Arthur, focus on the game."
Then he glared at Giggs.
Giggs smiled and raised the corner of his mouth: "I don't need to say anything, he can see it if he watches our previous games. He is not wrong."
Even the opposing players would help Cristiano by saying nice things to the referee to avoid him getting a card. Tsk, why has he never seen such an easy-going opponent?
When Cristiano heard his name called out on the radio outside, he stopped arguing with Giggs, took two deep breaths, and immediately ran out quickly.
As soon as he ran out of the player tunnel, the whole stadium screamed and chanted his name.
Cristiano raised his arms and turned to the stands at Old Trafford, clapping his hands in thanks to the fans.
Screaming fans excitedly raised the banners they had prepared - "Wee Home, Cristiano!", "2247DAYS FINALLY BACK!"
"Look, this is our Ronnie." Ferdinand stood next to Kaka, he covered his mouth and lowered his voice to the Brazilian, "Even though he has been away from Old Trafford for 2247 days, he is still the most unique No. 7 in the hearts of all fans. He is the child of Old Trafford and the child of everyone. The fans here have watched him grow up and they love him."
Kaka looked at Ferdinand and said, "So he came back here, but more importantly, he thinks you are here, and there are still shadows of the past here. He is a sentimental person."
Ferdinand narrowed his eyes slightly, looked at Kaka, and after two seconds he smiled inconspicuously: "Yes, Kaka. By the way, welcome to Manchester United."
"You said that before." Kaka laughed.
"Really? Then listen to it again." Ferdinand said, pressing Kaka's shoulder with a smile.
When everyone took a group photo, Cristiano was still standing at the edge, with Ferdinand on his left, followed by Kaka, Arthur... Cristiano put his arm on Ferdinand's shoulder, and when the camera swept over, he quickly stood on tiptoe, instantly raising half his head.
Ferdinand was almost pressed down by the Portuguese's unexpected force. He couldn't help but gasp and said, "Ronnie! Why don't you change your hobby of standing on tiptoe?"
Cristiano made a face at Ferdinand and ran away quickly.
Rooney heard laughter, then shouted: "Let him stand on his tiptoes! It's his debut!"
Alan pointed out: "Because he didn't press you."
Rooney grinned.
The competition officially begins.
After 2,247 days, the Red Jersey was put on again to stage a grand and magnificent game at Old Trafford. Without a doubt, Cristiano became the biggest focus of the game.
The amount of media focused on this game was almost comparable to that of the Champions League final or the World Cup final. Even when Cristiano ran to the sidelines to wipe his face with water before the game started, he was dazzled by the flashing lights.
Ferguson tried to brush away the flies impatiently.
He took his boy in his arms, put his hands over Cristiano's ears, and said to the Portuguese: "Listen Ronnie, don't think about anything, just enjoy this game, okay? Just like before, find your form, that's all, don't think about the victory or defeat of the game, I don't need you to think about these things now, understand?"
He knew that Cristiano wanted to respond urgently to the fans' enthusiasm and love, and wanted the team to win quickly and return to the way it was when he left.
But the team's problems cannot be changed overnight, nor can they be changed by one person, but Ferguson knows that as long as they remain together and move in the same direction, they will get what they want.
"Manchester United's starting lineup. The goalkeeper is the first signing of the summer, Valdes, the goalkeeper bought from Barcelona. The defenders are Michael Keane, Ferdinand, Phil Jones, and Vidic. The midfield is the veteran Giggs, the young player Arthur who stood out from the youth team, and the last signing of the summer, Kaka!"
"Rooney, Alan, and——"
"Cristiano—Ronaldo—!"
"Welcome home, Cristiano!"
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