Manchester was colder. Sharper. The pressure more intense.
Ronaldo stood on the training pitch in a trial jersey.
A defender laughed. "He's just a scrawny Portuguese kid."
By the end of the scrimmage, that same defender had been spun, dribbled, and left behindtwice.
Coach Eric Ryan checked his clipboard.
"Cristiano Ronaldo first team material within five years. Maybe less."
Ronaldo wiped sweat from his brow.
He hadn't come to make friends. He came to take over.