Cristiano Ronaldo Life's First Interview 

Cristiano Ronaldo's first interview arrived at Sporting CP when he was 11 years old and spent 5 years in anonymity until, at 16, a TV channel met the young prospect.

At the time overshadowed by Ricardo Quaresma.

It was a time of a poor Ronaldo when there wasn't Porsches, Ferraris or Bentleys And Ronaldo had to buy a ticket and take the train to go home.

Cristiano Ronaldo Age in First Match

It was a time when Ronaldo lived in a hostel, as the Sporting CP Academy was still being built - It could be better. 

But it's good enough until we can move to the academy. 

And I don't spend too much time here. I only come to sleep and then go out. 

Take a trip... "Where to?" - Lombo, Vasco da Gama, Morais... 

It was a time of Ronaldo and other prospects, like Edgar Marcelino and the youth player Miguel Garcia - How did it go? - Can I borrow it? 

Hey, I have one of these at home. It's expensive. How much did you pay for it? 

It was a time when Ronaldo still discussed the price of things and was 6 years away from the 180.000 euros he now gets paid weekly - About 300... - Yeah, around 300... Around 300 300 contos. 

That's how much he earned and gave to his mother, this 16-year-old youngster. 

She keeps the money in the bank. When I need some I ask her. And that's how we live. 

We were in 2001, September 2001, and Ronaldo, fond of this musical style was only 16 years old, he was in the youth ranks but already played with the under-21 team, the reserve squad and trained with the seniors, under László Bölöni. - Pedro Barbosa, Rui Bento...

Who are internationals? 

I couldn't believe I was training with them. It was a very happy moment for me. 

I still don't feel integrated. I'm not as comfortable as I am with the youth team.  

I still feel like a rookie there. "And with the reserve team as well?" 

Yes. Not that much, but a bit. He was only 16, but was already audacious, even when training alongside the most experienced players in the club - Sometimes they get upset, because I do something wrong with the ball, make a mistake and I complain to them because they're older and they're not used to it. 

Ronaldo was only 16 years old, but had already signed a professional contract and was represented by the then agent José Veiga. 

And had a termination clause with nine zeroes. "We need a youngster who is ready to rise. 

And we have him." 

"- Is this Cristiano Ronaldo?" 

"Yes." - 

László Bölöni, Sporting CP manager