Ronaldo's debut vs. Bolton (Aug 16, 2003)

Hoof the ball

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Took a trip down memory lane today and ended up watching the entire game, but for those that just want to re-watch the memorable Ronaldo debut, here's all his touches


I wish there was a way to check Redcafe archives going back to 2003 so we could read the match-day reactions to that game. Would have been something else!
 

kkengvib

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I remember watching this and getting really excited when he came on as he was sort of an unknown to me. I didn't watch the Sporting CP friendly and I was surprised he was given the number 7 when we signed him.

Wow, what a cameo. Terrorized the defense, put in a couple of nice crosses, wasn't afraid to take players on, and won us a penalty. You could even see Keane was happy for him.
I knew we had a good prospect on our hand but I would have never imagined he would turn out to be in the discussion as one of the greatest players to ever play the game.

If only we could've had him for his entire career.
 
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LawCharltonBest

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kkengvib said:
I remember watching this and getting really excited when he came on as he was sort of an unknown to me. I didn't want the Sporting CP friendly and I was surprised he was given the number 7 when we signed him.

Wow, what a cameo. Terrorized the defense, put in a couple of nice crosses, wasn't afraid to take players on, and won us a penalty. You could even see Keane was happy for him.
I knew we had a good prospect on our hand but I would have never imagined he would turn out to be in the discussion as one of the greatest players to ever play the game.

If only we could've had him for his entire career.
Click to expand...
I think the most annoying thing i've read in the last year is Patrice Evra saying that Sir Alex Ferguson told the players that Ronaldo was returning in 2013, before he retired and it didn't materialise.

Hopefully just Evra being Evra and exaggerating.

And yes, what a debut. I remember watching it and knowing we had a star already.
 

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It's funny just how much of that I remember. The cross, the run where he cut inside, the one where he beats three defenders.

It was such a fantastic moment. Winning 4-0 on opening day (?), a kid I hadn't a clue about coming on and dribbling like that.

Debuts like his, Rooney's and Martials are just brilliant as a fan. With Rooney, it was sheer disbelief at what one was witnessing.
 

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The most enthusiastic I've ever been by a player (only other time was seeing him toy with us in that pre-season friendly). I still remember the day I found out we were signing him. Expected him to turn into something incredible (but maybe not a 50 goal a season machine).
 

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Big trip down memory lane, this was so nostalgic. I remember I just came home from school and rushed to turn on the TV. Back then, I had no broadband and I had to rely on the tele-text for football score updates and I vividly remember his name being broadcasted as the star of that match. I was eagerly waiting to watch the highlights, and he delivered a great virtuoso performance. His dribbling skills was sublime.
 
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Hoof the ball

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Dudes! Thanks for the wayback links to the old threads! Some of the grammar and spelling in that thread is shocking :lol:

So, Sir Alex didn't have any qualms playing Ronaldo, aged 17/18, only three days after signing him? Nowadays it seems like they always miss the first two games in order to acclimatise to the squad, and here Ronaldo is absolutely bossing at after a couple of days or so!

Remember this game as clear as day. That roar when he was about to come on. That camera closeup on the name on the back of his shirt; iconic. We just knew something special was about to happen. Sad that we didn't get Ronaldinho over the line, but in hindsight we got Ronnie and that turned out a better deal.
 

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Watched this match, hungover, on a barstool in Ibiza, nursing a pint of Cruzcampo......... oneof the most enjoyable afternoons of all time :D
 

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It was a genuine 'where you you when...' moment for everyone who saw it. You just knew that he had the talent to go to the very top, based on little more than a brief, brilliant cameo.
 

Chesterlestreet

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Watched it in a pub in a decidedly non-glamorous part of the world, being somewhat miserable in general at the time.

Exited the premises with a buzz that lasted all day.

Genuinely thought we had something very special on our hands. And was - for once - absolutely right.
 

Pablo18th

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I was still mad about the Beckham sale but this was my favourite debut and the most excited I've ever been for a prospect. 6 years later I would be mad about his sale too even though I knew this was inevitable. I will forever cherish his time with us, his journey with us from young star to the best in the world was thrilling.
 

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Ronaldo was such a fun player to watch till 2006-07, he was better in 2007-08 and his best version was at Madrid but Ronaldo 2006-07 was such a joy to watch.
 

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One of my favourite moments ever. I didn’t really know anything about him, my Dad got me a KFC after the game as well. Will always remember that and the demolition of Fulham a few years later as my favourite first game.
 

VorZakone

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He's been so long in the game now. He was signed 4 years after the 99 treble, that's how long ago he started out. The guy's longevity to still be one of the world's best players 17 years later is ridicilous.
 

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From the moment he came on you could tell this kid was special. Him and Rooney were just so exciting to watch. You just knew they would do something everytime they got the ball. Ronaldo I’m particular always have an air of anticipation to the crowd whenever he got there ball - we all just knew he was going to do something great.
 

Hoof the ball

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I remember showing up for Sunday League the weeks after and half the players on various teams started wrapping tape around their ankles like Ronaldo. :lol:
 

Sara125

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Wumminator said:
One of my favourite moments ever. I didn’t really know anything about him, my Dad got me a KFC after the game as well. Will always remember that and the demolition of Fulham a few years later as my favourite first game.
Click to expand...
Why/how do you remember this specific detail :lol:
 

Inigo Montoya

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Hoof The Ball said:
Took a trip down memory lane today and ended up watching the entire game, but for those that just want to re-watch the memorable Ronaldo debut, here's all his touches


I wish there was a way to check Redcafe archives going back to 2003 so we could read the match-day reactions to that game. Would have been something else!
Click to expand...
I was there. 200 stepovers and gained a penalty. Crowd on their feet from the moment he first ran with the ball.Never seen a debut like it :lol:
 

#07

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I can still remember the reaction to Ronaldo's debut. Its amazing to think it was 17 years ago!

The excitement was incredible. I think that kind of led to some of the disappointment in the few years that followed. He looked absolutely unstoppable in that Bolton game. Every time he touched the ball and ran with it was like watching a knife cut through butter.

In the years that followed that Bolton game there were good moments, there were not some good moments. On a whole before 2006/07 I felt let down by Ronaldo. To me he didn't recapture the brilliance of his debut against Bolton...

...then came Charlton (A) 2006/07. Don't get me wrong he was really good against Fulham on the opening day but Rooney was better. However, that game at Charlton suddenly saw everything come together. It wasn't as exciting as Bolton in some ways but it was like watching him come of age. He dominated Charlton and the Charlton fans who began the game booing his every touch ended the game in awe of him.

God knows I'm privileged to have seen Ronaldo play in a red shirt.
 

MancunianAngels

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Post like its 2003

Flash kid
No end product.
Needs to spend more time on football and less doing his hair.
Send him on loan to Sunderland.
 

Offside

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Great debut can think maybe only Aguero has had a better debut in the PL era?
 

Lay

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Even big sam praised him after the game.

His second game, against wolves he was pretty bad
 

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If only he was born manc , just imagine how many CL titles we would have
 

Giggsforever

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Take a look at Forlan at 4:25. The way he smiles at the great young player he is watching, a true lover of the game.
 

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Rojofiam

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LawCharltonBest said:
I think the most annoying thing i've read in the last year is Patrice Evra saying that Sir Alex Ferguson told the players that Ronaldo was returning in 2013, before he retired and it didn't materialise.

Hopefully just Evra being Evra and exaggerating.

And yes, what a debut. I remember watching it and knowing we had a star already.
Click to expand...
Wasn't he putting his Madrid home up for sale in early 2013? I definitely remember reading some rumors regarding this around that time, not to mention I remember Meulensteen confirming / referring to Evra's comments about this. I don't think it was exaggerating.

Crazy how different the next 3-4 seasons after 2013 would've been with Ferguson, Ronaldo and van Persie. :lol: I think Rooney would've been sold though, but he started declining really early anyway.
 
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