The locker room was louder now
He wasn't the new kid anymore
He was part of the noise
But he didn't speak much
Only when it mattered
Some players joked
Others watched
Most respected
But not all
---
One midfielder kept jabbing at him in training
Calling him soft
Too pretty
Said he'd never last a full season
Cristiano didn't respond
He just took the hits
Then made sure to outrun him
Outwork him
Outshine him
---
In private Sir Alex pulled him aside again
His tone was sharper now
You're not here to impress
You're here to dominate
Forget tricks
Win games
Cristiano nodded
But his eyes didn't dim
I can do both
Sir Alex raised a brow
We'll see
---
The next match was away
Hostile crowd
Cold rain
Slippery pitch
Cristiano played like he didn't feel any of it
He tracked back
Defended
Passed clean
Then in the 75th minute
He got the ball near the sideline
Three defenders came
He cut inside
Dragged one
Dropped the second
Spun past the third
And curled the shot top corner
Silence from the home crowd
Roar from the away fans
Sir Alex didn't smile
But he clapped once
That was enough
---
After the match reporters waited
Microphones shoved in his face
Was that goal to silence the critics?
Cristiano looked at them
Calm
Clear
That goal was for the kid with holes in his shoes
Not for you
---
He walked off
Rain falling
Head high
Behind the noise
Behind the headlines
One truth echoed in his mind
They can talk
I'll just keep working