Ronaldo experienced when he got to Europe

 

Ronaldo

Verón:

“How was your adaptation to Europe when you first left Brazil? I imagine it wasn’t easy. I’m not talking about training — because once that’s over, you go home and shut the door — I mean the weather, especially in the winter.”

Ronaldo:

“It wasn’t easy, but I prepared myself mentally. I asked Romário and Bebeto about life in Europe.

I experienced winter in the Netherlands, it got down to minus 20 degrees, and I never gave up.

At that time, I remembered what my idol Zico used to do and how he trained his left foot.

So I went out into the yard and spent hours and hours kicking the ball against the wall using only my left foot.

That’s how I started improving that foot, the one I used only for walking.

And by the end of my career, out of 500 goals, 200 came from my left foot.”

Verón:

“I remember defenders used to threaten you all the time, Roni. They tried everything to intimidate you.”

Ronaldo:

“Yeah, that’s true” (laughs)

“Verón, you were a great player, not the typical opponent, you had your own style.

Let me tell you a story from when I was young...

I was playing with Cruzeiro in a derby against Atlético Mineiro. I was 16 years old. I felt confident and comfortable.

I had scored a few goals and, in a TV interview that weekend, I said: ‘I’ll score a hat-trick in the next game.’

I was only 16, no experience.

The match started. In the 2nd minute, as I was watching the ball come to my feet, someone headbutted me.

I fell. I didn’t even know who it was.

A few minutes later, bam, a punch to the face from behind.

As I tried to get up, I noticed blood dripping.

Then I heard him yell:

‘You’re never scoring a f***ing hat-trick here, you son of a b***h!’

I had forgotten I even said that, but he remembered.

I told the referee, but he didn’t see a thing...

A few minutes later, he came at me again and almost broke my teeth.

Then, just before halftime, he punched me from behind again and not even near the ball.

There weren’t many cameras back then. I remember leaving the field crying.

Because of that damn interview, I got hit all over, with and without the ball, all in the first half.

But in the locker room, I calmed down. I wanted to change the way I played.

In the second half, I started asking for the ball far away from that jerk, and then I’d attack.”

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Verón:

“And how did the match end, Roni?”

Ronaldo:

“We won 3–0. And I scored all three goals.” (laughs)

Simply... he’s the Phenomenon.