Real Madrid thrash Manchester City 4-1 to win International Champions Cup

Cristiano Ronaldo shrugged off reports he had fallen out with manager Rafa Benitez to score as Real Madrid beat Manchester City 4-1 to lift the global Champions Cup in Melbourne. “That’s the most important thing”.

It was the MCG’s biggest ever crowd for a football-only event and they were treated to plenty of goals in the first half. The ten-time European champions revelled in the atmosphere, opening up Man City with sublime touches, flicks and clinical finishing for three goals before the break.

“I’m really pleased to see the team play well”, said Real manager Rafael Benitez.

Ronaldo pounced four minutes later, getting a sublime first touch to bring down German Toni Kroos’s long pass before poking home.

And as Ronaldo boarded Madrid’s team bus after the game he was relaxed and smiling after his super-show which City found too hot to handle.

City won a penalty just before half-time and Yaya Toure stepped up to send goalkeeper Keylor Navas the wrong way.

A piece of Isco inspiration created Real’s fourth in the 72nd minute, the Spain midfielder dancing around the defence on the right of the box before steering a low cross into the path of Denis Cherychev. But the English Premier League (EPL) club’s other new purchase Fabian Delph could not produce anything as noteworthy, as his debut ended with a suspected hamstring injury. “Sergio will remain our player and hopefully we’ll be able to talk about him scoring key goals like he’s done in the past”.

After a dire first-up display against Roma a week earlier, Real produced a virtuoso performance to claim the inaugural global Champions Cup Australia. We do expect Louis van Gaal to make a few more signings before the transfer window closes but, when it comes to Cristiano Ronaldo, it is unlikely that we will see him leaving Real Madrid any time soon.

Manchester United will be delighted if Benitez decides against pursuing a move for their goalkeeper, as De Gea excelled again last season, winning the club’s Player of the Year award for the second consecutive season. “We wanted to give him (Navas) the chance to play and prove himself and he has done well”.