MANCHESTER, England, 15 March 2007 — Cristiano Ronaldo gave a further glimpse of a potentially glittering future as Manchester United paid tribute to their European past on Tuesday.
United celebrated 50 years of European competition by beating a Europe XI 4-3 and Ronaldo was the undoubted star of the show in front of 74,343 supporters at Old Trafford. Bobby Charlton, a member of Matt Busby’s team that fulfilled a burning ambition by winning United’s first European Cup in 1968, had tipped Ronaldo to be one of the game’s great players in the buildup to the showpiece match. The 22-year-old Portuguese international did not disappoint him with a dazzling display capped by a stunning set-piece goal in his 45-minute appearance which further explained United’s desire to secure his long-term future on a new contract.
Ronaldo’s quick feet bewitched the European defense and 10 minutes before halftime he curled a 35-meter free kick past Valencia goalkeeper Santiago Canizares and into the top corner. It was the kind of goal which made David Beckham’s name during his days as United’s set-piece wizard, although he was unable to play after injuring his knee while playing for Real Madrid earlier this month. The European side changed their line-up after the break and pulled two goals back with a header and a penalty from El-Hadji Diouf, which United hope will not be a taste of things to come for Saturday when Diouf returns to Old Trafford with his Bolton Wanderers team. The match, which also marked the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome as the foundation of the European Union, attracted a record crowd for a non-competitive match at Old Trafford with the proceeds going to charitable projects through the Manchester United Foundation.
