The day a boy fulfilled his mammy’s dream

OF COURSE, I blame the mammy.

Right now, there must be a lot red-shirted little ‘uns with trembling lower lips and watery eyes looking for their mothers to assure them the world hasn’t come to an end. But, for once, the boy Ronaldo won’t be one of them. And if his mother is enfolding him in her arms, it will be in celebration not sympathy.

After all, it was way back in January of last year when Delores Aveiro declared: “I don’t like English teams but I know I have to like them because he is at Manchester. But for me... Real Madrid. Of all the foreign clubs, Real Madrid is the best. Before I die I would like him to play for Real Madrid. I would really like that and then I could die, it wouldn’t matter.”