RONALDO NOW A POPE STAR

Sunday July 12,2009

By Colin Mafham

CRISTIANO RONALDO will line up for his Real Madrid debut next week by hitting an even higher level – he’s nearly as big as the Pope!

The world’s most expensive footballer flies into Real’s Dublin training camp tomorrow amid the sort of security that hasn’t been seen since Pope John Paul II visited Ireland 30 years ago.

An army of police and security staff will guard the Carton House Hotel and sports complex Ronaldo, Kaka and the Spanish giant’s other superstars are staying in for 10 days.

And when he makes his fi rst appearance in front of a sell-out 12,000 crowd against Shamrock Rovers, it will be beamed to millions all over the world.

Even though the £80million star won’t play the full 90 minutes, organisers could have sold fi ve times as many tickets in a new stadium that has had its normal 3,500 capacity boosted by temporary seating, such is the demand to see him.

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