Guillem Balagué Libri

"Cristiano Ronaldo è un'ala destra? Anche. Cristiano Ronaldo è un'ala sinistra? Pure. Cristiano Ronaldo è un centravanti? Quando vuole. Cristiano Ronaldo è un difensore? A volte. Cristiano Ronaldo segna di testa? Sì. Segna di destro? Certamente. E i gol di sinistro? Se gli capita." I mass media non smettono di cantarne le gesta. Perché Ronaldo è un fenomeno, una macchina da record. Ha segnato 100 gol in un anno. È stato il primo giocatore a vincere nella stessa stagione Premier League, Champions League e Coppa del mondo per club Fifa con il Manchester United. Il primo calciatore portoghese ad aver vinto tre Palloni d'oro, nel 2008, 2013 e 2014. Il primo ad aver segnato contro ogni squadra nella Liga spagnola in una sola stagione. Ha anche il record per il maggior numero di gol segnati in una stagione per il Real Madrid e per aver realizzato più di 50 gol in cinque stagioni consecutive. Il suo trasferimento dal Manchester al Real nel 2009 per 94 milioni di euro è stato per anni il più oneroso della storia del calcio. Della sua carriera sportiva si sa tutto, ma poco o nulla si conosce dell'uomo. Quarto figlio non voluto di una famiglia povera di Madeira in Portogallo, padre alcolizzato e assente, Cristiano sin da bambino non si staccava dal pallone. È un narcisista e un perfezionista, un maniaco dell'allenamento e della forma fisica, il primo a iniziare gli allenamenti e l'ultimo ad andarsene...

Cristiano Ronaldo is known across the globe as a Portuguese footballer who plays as a forward for Spanish club Real Madrid and captains the Portugal national team. He became the most expensive footballer in history when he moved from Manchester United to Real Madrid in 2009 in a transfer worth over £80 million. Ronaldo's contract with Real Madrid, under the terms of which he is paid €21 million per year (after taxes), makes him the highest-paid footballer in the world, and his buy-out clause is valued at €1billion as per his contract.Born in Funchal, Madeira in 1985, and as early as 1997 he made a move to Portuguese giants Sporting Clube de Portugal. Ronaldo caught the attention of Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who signed him for £12.24 million in 2003. He wore the number 7 shirt which was previously worn by George Best, Eric Cantona and David Beckham.Ronaldo was the first player playing in England to win all four main PFA and FWA awards, doing so in 2007. In 2008 and 2013, Ronaldowon the Ballon d'Or award for the best footballer on the planet, being the first ever Portuguese to win the award twice.

The definitive biography of Cristiano Ronaldo, named Football Book of the Year at the Cross Sports Book Awards 2016 Fully updated to include the 2015-16 season Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest footballers of all time, a dream he pursued from the age of just twelve when he left his humble origins on Madeira behind. It wasn't long before he had the biggest clubs in Europe knocking on his door, but it was Manchester United who won the race for his signature. Under the tutelage of Sir Alex Ferguson, Ronaldo developed into the complete footballer and athlete, winning three league titles and a Champions League along the way. He then became the biggest galáctico of them all when he transferred to Real Madrid for a record-breaking fee. However, he has endured a difficult relationship with managers, teammates and the fans - and his time at the club has often been overshadowed by his fierce rivalry with Barcelona and Lionel Messi. Guillem Balagué, respected football journalist and expert on the Spanish game, provides the definitive account of what has made Ronaldo the player and man that he is today.

The exclusive behind-the-scenes story of the Mauricio Pochettino revolution at Spurs

Lionel Messi's career has been a stellar ascent, and shows no signs as yet of slowing down. Born in Rosario in Argentina in 1987, he began playing football at a very young age, and it wasn't long before his skill and potential was noticed in Europe by Barcelona. This book tells his story.

Barca: The Illustrated History of FC Barcelona is the official celebration of modern football's most dominant team. This club-endorsed book traces the club's history from its formation in 1899, the trials and tribulations of growth, through to the blossoming of the club in the 1960s and its recognition as a super power of modern football.

This fully updated edition of the international bestseller includes Pep Guardiola's Bayern years and his decision to join Manchester City

Biographical Portrait of Liverpool's Spanish football manager Rafael Benitez and an extraordinary season for the club.

The dazzling life story of Diego Maradona, one of the greatest and most controversial footballers in the history of the game, by prize-winning biographer Guillem Balague[Bokinfo]

The definitive award-winning biography of Cristiano Ronaldo - fully revised and updated to include the 2022 World Cup, Ronaldo's explosive exit from Manchester United and his record-breaking transfer to Al Nassr.As the Qatar World Cup opened to worldwide jubilation, Cristiano Ronaldo's second spell at Manchester United reached an abrupt conclusion. It was not to be the fairy tale ending to a glittering career that so many had hoped for. Instead, over the two seasons, it had snowballed into a toxic standoff between himself, the board and newly appointed manager, Erik Ten Hag. The Theatre's dream was over. On 22 November 2022, Ronaldo's contract was terminated.In this compelling account, Guillem Balague draws on impeccable sources, first-hand interviews and unprecedented access, taking us on a journey from Madeira to Manchester, and onto Spain, Italy, and Saudi Arabia. From Ronaldo's tutelage under Sir Alex Ferguson to becoming the biggest galactico of them all at Real Madrid, and captaining Portugal to the first silverware in their history at the UEFA Euro 2016, Guillem chronicles Ronaldo's career in its entirety. This is nothing less than the definitive portrait of a true icon of modern football, who has reached the very heights of the beautiful game and cemented his place as one of the greatest players of all time.