Ronaldo’s presentation at San Siro: 27 July 1997

MILAN - There were still five months left until Christmas, but 27 July 1997 was just like the morning of the 25th of December for Inter fans all over the world. A day they’d been anxiously awaiting for weeks, with the same anticipation and excitement you get when opening a present. There was indeed the most wonderful of presents waiting for Nerazzurri fans, one which walked out onto the pitch at San Siro, greeted by scores of young Inter fans. These children showed the emotions that every Nerazzurri fan was feeling inside: pure amazement and joy.

And so it was that on 27 July 1997, Ronaldo set foot on the hallowed turf at San Siro for the very first time with the Nerazzurri number 10 on his back. Il Fenomeno. Luis Nazario de Lima. The occasion: the second edition of the Pirelli Cup. Our opponents: Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United, just like the preceding year. Before the game however, our players were presented by the trio of Nerazzurri comedians: Aldo, Giovanni and Giacomo.

A party, beautiful and pure, with more than 50,000 fans in the stands. Intense moments, with the players called out to the pitch one by one. All the way until Ronaldo, with Aldo’s teasing introduction and the warmest of embraces by all of the children in Inter shirts on the pitch, as Il Fenomeno came out of the tunnel to a sea of black and blue at San Siro.