Rain can't dampen Ronaldo's Real start

The world’s most expensive player failed to let the torrential rain dampen his spirits today as he ran out with his Real Madrid teammates on the first leg of their Irish trip.

Cristiano Ronaldo took to the pitches of the luxurious Carton House in Co Kildare for a day of training sessions kicking off their nine-day visit to Ireland.

Security was tight around the secluded hotel although a few fans managed to get a sneak peak at the famed international squad.

At the first press conference captain Raul said he was excited to be working with the 24-year-old Portuguese winger, who transferred from Manchester United in a record £80m deal.

Ronaldo is expected to appear before the press later in the week.

“There are not many Cristiano Ronaldos in the world and Real Madrid has made a great financial effort, but Real Madrid wants the best team in the world,” Raul said, speaking through a translator.

And he was quick to pay tribute to the superstar’s commitment to the game.

“Cristiano behaves like all the rest of the team, he’s a very well-loved player,” Raul said.

“Women and children, they ask him for autographs and he always complies very nicely.

“What’s important is he plays good football and he’s very committed and whatever he does in his private life is his own business.”

Ronaldo’s fee breaks the previous world-record of £56m which Real Madrid paid for Milan’s forward Kaka earlier in the summer.

Although the Brazilian was not among the players that touched down at Dublin Airport last night, Karim Benzema, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Gabriel Heinze, Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben were in the entourage.

A handful of fans waited in the rain at Carton House in the hope of seeing Ronaldo, who signed autographs at the end of one of the morning training sessions.

The nine-day camp in Ireland will also include a sell-out friendly against Shamrock Rovers next Monday.

The south Dublin club – which has a capacity of 3,000 – was forced to construct an extra 7,000 seats for the fixture to accommodate the massive number of fans hoping to watch Ronaldo play his first game for the nine-time European champions.

But fans maintain their upcoming League of Ireland matches are more important than the friendly.

Elsewhere tourism chiefs hope Real Madrid’s Irish base will promote the island as a holiday and sporting destination.

Barbara Wood, of Tourism Ireland in Spain, said it is a great coup that one of the biggest clubs in the world is coming here.

“We have put a busy promotional programme in place, to capitalise on the wonderful exposure offered by this visit and match,” said Ms Woods.

“Spain is an important market for tourism to the island of Ireland, last year delivering 262,000 visitors, and the visit of Real Madrid is a great hook to deliver the message that there has never been a better time for Spaniards to visit the island of Ireland.”