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From the latest transfer news, quizzes, videos, features and interviews with the biggest names in the game, plus lots more.Signup +Once a week...And its LIVE!Sign up to our FREE live football newsletter, tracking all of the biggest games available to watch on the device of your choice. Never miss a kick-off!Signup +Join the clubGet full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.Explore An account already exists for this email address, please log in.Subscribe to our newsletterBefore the quest for 1,000 goals, the five Ballons dOr and the seemingly never-ending roll calls of team and individual hours, the young Cristiano Ronaldo was just one of countless hopefuls chasing a dream.As the Portuguese icon worked his way up through the Sporting youth system, there were, however, clues as to what was going to come.Ronaldo would rise through the ranks there and then go on to play alongside fellow attacker Nani for both club and country, who has recalled what it was like to break into the senior game alongside the future legend.You may likeRonaldo will reach 1,000 goals easily, I have no doubt. Its a milestone that matters to him something hes had in mind for years Nani on Cristiano Ronaldos ultimate goalscoring questCristiano Ronaldo's thousand goal stareFootballers really are just very normal people, and thats what I found with him. I had the chance to live and work alongside Cristiano, it was a very pleasant surprise Alvaro Gonzalez on what Cristiano Ronaldo is really like off the pitchNani on rising through the ranks alongside RonaldoNanis path was not the most straightforward one, as at the age of 16 he trained at both Sporting and Benfica, before opting to choose the former.Yes, it was quite an unusual situation, training with Benfica and Sporting at the same time, Nani recalls to FourFourTwo. Later, both clubs invited me to do pre-season, and at first I said yes to both. It was crazy.Get VIP Manchester United tickets HERE with Seat Unique!Manchester United's hospitality offers comfortable, padded seating in the North West Quadrant. The package includes a concourse meal deal (hot food, drink, and snack) and the official matchday programme. Guests also receive a 10 per cent Megastore discount and non-matchday Museum entry, providing a great value, family-friendly match experience for home fans.View DealIn the end, I chose Sporting because I had a friend there and, to be honest, it was also the club I liked the most.That meant Nani would play alongside Ronaldo at the Sporting academy - so was the youngster destined for greatness at that young age?Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.At the time we didnt think about any of that, we simply played and enjoyed ourselves, he continues.We had the ambition and the dream that one day we might become professional footballers, but we also knew that, until you actually get there, its little more than an illusion.In the end, everything happened very fast opportunities came and we didnt let them slip away. That spirit of sacrifice we had at such a young age was key.Despite this, some of Ronaldos traits were there at an early age."Even as a kid, he already stood out above everyone else, Nani adds. He knew exactly what he wanted. Cristiano lived football with enormous passion if he didnt win or things didnt go well, hed cry.That showed just how committed he was and the intensity with which he lived the game.TOPICSNaniCristiano RonaldoManchester UnitedPremier LeagueJoe MewisSocial Links NavigationFor more than a decade, Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor. Mewis has had stints at Mirror Football and LeedsLive among others and worked at FourFourTwo throughout Euro 2024, reporting on the tournament. In addition to his journalist work, Mewis is also the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team. Now working as a digital marketing coordinator at Harrogate Town, too, Mewis counts some of his best career moments as being in the iconic Spygate press conference under Marcelo Bielsa and seeing his beloved Leeds lift the Championship trophy during lockdown.With contributions fromDani Gil
