A new version of Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United: this was his transformation in the 12 years away from Old Trafford

More than a decade has passed since Cristiano Ronaldo left Manchester United, where he returns in the role of star signing in this market, but also as a completely different footballer from the one who emigrated to Spain in mid-2009. his departure from Old Trafford, the Portuguese striker returns as one of the greatest exponents in his sport and in his time. His individual and collective records have grown to the point of positioning themselves among the best players in all of history. His innate talent, mentality of steel and work ethic have allowed him to realize a spectacular metamorphosis.

Long before he became a goal-scoring machine, he was a quick attacker, but not as decisive. When he first came to England from Sporting Lisboa he was playing as a traditional winger and displaying his talents on the wings. The Premier League received an 18-year-old boy with a great imbalance in individual duels, who reached the bottom line and crossed.

He said goodbye to Old Trafford seduced by a leading role in the great reconstruction of Real Madrid. That transfer market for the 2009/10 season saw him become the most expensive footballer in history thanks to a transfer valued at 94 million euros. Some 80,000 fans received him at the Santiago Bernabéu, a place where year after year he showed exponential growth.

His time at Real Madrid was really wonderful, and he knew how to decorate him with titles of all colors. To them, individual achievements such as Ballons d'Or and distinctions of all kinds were added. However, three seasons ago he decided to leave that comfort zone, and sealed his arrival at Juventus. The story was not so good in Italy, and his departure was predictable long ago.

At 36 years old, its validity is out of the question. Manchester United recovers one of the most important players in its modern history. He no longer has the vitality of 12 years ago, but he meticulously takes care of his breaks, eating and places special emphasis on training to combat the passage of time. His physique fades but his talent and determination can do more, they push him to constantly reinvent himself.