You hear the same old story when the futures of footballers are discussed these days: “It’s normal to change team. At the end of the day they are professionals and it’s logical they go where they’re paid more.”

We heard it this summer, for example, when Paco Alcácer left behind the captaincy of Valencia to be a benchwarmer at Barcelona. But there is another stock of players that identify themselves with a particular shirt from the first day that they put it on.

Ronaldo deserves praise for rejecting China

When Cristiano packed out the Bernabéu on 6 July 2009 and screamed, “Un, dos, tres…Hala Madrid!” it was clear that the Portuguese was going to be at the club for life. The current Ballon d’Or holder deserves collective praise for his rejection of the huge offer from China, which from a human pint of view was practically inalienable.

In the seven years that he’s been wearing white, Cristiano has won all the titles possible with Madrid; collectively and individually. His goodbye now would leave €300 in the Bernabéu coffers. But he didn’t come to Madrid to make money, he came to make history. And he’s already written it…he still is. Champion, the best is yet to come. How great you are, Cristiano!