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DUBLIN - Cristiano Ronaldo wore the white of Real Madrid
on Monday for the first time since his record move from Manchester
United, playing 45 minutes in a 1-0 friendly win over lowly Irish
side Shamrock Rovers.
But it was fellow big-money signing Karim Benzema who spared the
Spanish side's blushes, striking three minutes from time against a
team who flirted with bankruptcy four years ago and whose highest
earner pockets around 1,000 euros a week.
Ronaldo's every touch was booed by the 10,915 fans squashed into
Rovers' Tallaght Stadium, where capacity was trebled to see Real's
Galacticos who had trained for a week on the outskirts of
Dublin.
Some tried to catch a glimpse of the world player of the year
from nearby apartments, many with 190,000 euro for sale signs
attached, roughly what Real's new number nine earns a week.
The Portuguese received a hostile reception and Rovers
centre-half Pat Flynn sent the winger clattering to the floor after
his first touches had sent him speeding past defenders in trademark
style.
With Kaka in Madrid alongside Real's other Confederations Cup
representatives and Benzema starting on the bench, Ronaldo provided
the only first-half evidence of Real's audacious spending spree of
more than 200 million euros.
Despite resting five leading players, the hosts matched their
opponents in the first half, allowing only fullback Marcelo a clear
sight at goal.
Ronaldo drew the biggest cheer of the first half when his free
kick went well wide and when a second effort tamely struck the wall
15 minutes later, the crowds taunts of "who are ya" grew
louder.
Ronaldo played no further part as new Real coach Manuel
Pellegrini made nine changes at halftime.
Former Lyon forward Benzema was among the changes and after
having a scuffed shot cleared off the line, he controlled a long
ball expertly and coolly finished in the 87th minute to seal
victory.
