Ronaldo: Epitome of Anti-Human

Ronaldo, the problem child
Jonathan Northcroft

"Ronaldo performed that most egregious trick as far as Englishmen are concerned - going against the spirit of fair play"

CRISTIANO RONALDO was what before the days of political correctness and popular psychology they used to call a �problem child�. He was almost expelled from Sporting Lisbon�s Academy for throwing a chair at a teacher who mocked his thick Madeira accent. He felt an outcast on mainland Portugal and wanted to go back to the islands he grew up on. After this, he will be able to go to any square inch of his home country and feel idolised. He will find a different reaction awaits him when he next sets foot in England.

Ronaldo�s embellishment and perceived theatrics in a Manchester United shirt already made him among the least-like foreign imports in the Premiership. He even divided United fans. Yesterday he took his unpopularity to another level joining a list of big tournament foreign villains for the english which included Diego Simeone and Andreas Moller. OK, so at France �98 Simeone was guilty of play-acting. But at least he was actually kicked by David Beckham and Moller�s crime was to do no worse than celebrate his winning penalty a little obnoxiously at Euro �96. Ronaldo performed that most egregious trick as far as Englishmen are concerned - going against the spirit of fair play. When he ran across to Horatio Elizondo, the Argentine referee, and demanded Wayne Rooney be sent off, it was a Judas moment. Win at all costs even if it means betraying a friend.

Ronaldo�s punishment will be to have to face Rooney not just in the United dressing room but on the training pitch in bounce games every day. That is unless he gets his typically self-serving wish to be transferred to Rio Madrid. Rooney certainly thought he was a mate. It was obvious from the way the England number nine shared a joke with his opponent as the pair walked out, shoulder to shoulder, for the line-up. When Ronaldo pulled his trick with the ref, mixed with the disgust on Rooney�s face there was an expression of shock.

Throughout the game the usual Ronaldo faults were there. He went to ground easily when challenged, was always ready to board a showboat, and rammed home his glee in front of the England fans irresponsibly when his winning penalty went in. Having pointed to the heavens (shouldn�t it have been towards the bowls of the earth given his morals?) the winger went towards the England support and let out a war cry. That said, his decisive penalty had been a beauty, lobbed expertly with a coolness Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard could only envy into the �unsaveable� area for spot kicks. He had been so self-assured, giggling up and down on the spot before placing the ball, kissing the orb itself, checking his run-up - all theatrics designed to motivate himself and distract Paul Robinson. He�d been Portugal�s best player throughout the game too. A constant danger with his beautifully balanced dribbling, his willingness to seize possession and his threatening long shots. There has never been the slightest doubt that Cristiano Ronaldo is a prodigiously gifted footballer. But yesterday, and not for the first time, you had to question whether he is a man.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2093-2253228,00.html


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