Africa Sports

Adebayor recounts how Ronaldo beat him to Real Madrid training despite arriving 2 hours ahead of time

In January 2011, Real Madrid announced the loan signing of former Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor from Manchester City until the end of the 2010/2011 season.

This move was prompted by then-Madrid coach Jose Mourinho’s desire to bolster his attack, as Gonzalo Higuain was sidelined with an injury and Karim Benzema was struggling to find form.

Adebayor’s playing time had significantly decreased under Roberto Mancini at Manchester City, and the Togolese striker saw this opportunity as a chance to revive his career.

With an option to buy included in the contract, Adebayor was determined to prove himself to the Madrid hierarchy.

Adebayor recalls hearing about Ronaldo’s exceptional professionalism before joining the team. Eager to demonstrate his own commitment, Adebayor decided to arrive at training two hours early, just a day after signing.

“When I first signed with Madrid, we all knew Cristiano Ronaldo was a professional – always on time,” Adebayor said. “I was told training would start at 10:30, so I made it a point to arrive around 8:30 or 8:45, giving myself at least two hours alone.”

However, Adebayor was in for a surprise. Upon arrival, he discovered that Ronaldo had already been there for three hours.

“I got there around 8:45, feeling proud to be the first to arrive and show my professionalism,” Adebayor humorously recounted. “But when I asked one of the physios about the noise downstairs, he told me it was Ronaldo swimming. I realized I wasn’t the first after all – I was second! When I approached Ronaldo to exchange greetings, I learned he had arrived at 7:30. I simply wished him good luck and left.”

 

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. In addition to his media ventures, Solomon serves as a Brand Ambassador for Alabuga, a prominent Russian industrial company, representing their interests and expansion across Africa. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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