Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has launched a new range of boots which are a tribute to his time at Manchester United.
Ronaldo wore the No 28 shirt at his boyhood club Sporting Lisbon, but Sir Alex Ferguson insisted on wearing the hallowed No 7 shirt, previously worn by David Beckham, Eric Cantona and George Best, when he made the switch to Old Trafford in 2003.
The Portuguese described the Scot as his father in the game and credits United for being the place where he learned the art of football.
His rise to prominence in Manchester propelled United to an FA Cup, three Premier League titles in a row and a Champions League trophy.
And although he has arguably gone on to bigger and better things at the Bernabeu, the 32-year-old’s latest footwear shows he has not forgotten where he learned his trade.
‘I remember when I left Lisbon for England, Alex Ferguson said to me “listen, I want you to take the No 7”,’ Ronaldo recalled.
‘I was surprised because I knew the guys who wore that shirt. I accepted the challenge, it was great.
‘It was the beginning of my success in football. It was probably one of the most beautiful moments in my career so far.
‘Alex Ferguson was a father for me in football. And I learned many things, not just from the coach but the players.
‘I improved not just my skills but my body too.
‘In the five years that I was (at United) I learned the art of football, it was a dream for me.’
He eventually left the north-west of England for pastures new in Madrid in 2009 – for the meagre fee of £80million.
But the new boots, named ‘Chapter 4: Forged for Greatness’, contain stark reminders of the path he paved in the game before arriving at the Bernabeu.
The Roman numerals XXVIII feature on the heel – with the VII highlighted to depict his swapping of Sporting’s No 28 shirt for the No 7 at United.
The Portguese scored 118 goals in 292 appearances at United, winning nine trophies and a Ballon d’Or during six seasons at the club.
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