Ronaldo checks out his museum

Cristiano Ronaldo, suspended for Real Madrid’s Copa del Rey last 32 first leg 0-0 at Olimpic de Xativa on Saturday, took advantage of the break to return home to Madeira and check on the progress of his soon to open personal museum.

Madrid gave Ronaldo a few days off last week due to the ban, and to allow him to recover from a number of injury niggles picked during a recent busy schedule for club and country.

The attacker flew back to the island’s capital Funchal to spend time with family, including his mother and infant son Cristiano Ronaldo Junior. He is to return on Sunday to officially open a new ‘Cristiano Ronaldo museum’, which will exhibit trophies, medals, footballs, photographs and jerseys from his career passage through Madeira youth side Andorinha, Sporting Lisbon’s youth set-up, Manchester United and now Real Madrid.

A space has also apparently been set aside for the 2013 Ballon D’Or.

With a new bumper €20m a year contract signed with Madrid in September, and nemesis Lionel Messi struggling with persistent injuries, Ronaldo appears happy in his own skin now.

“This is a good stage in my life at the moment,” he told local journalists on his return home.

Reports suggest the museum will help boost tourism on the island, and also that Ronaldo will part-invest in a luxury hotel complex to cater for visitors.

It’s always good to give something back.