Cristiano Ronaldo has departed Real Madrid for Juventus, he confirmed in a statement after frenzied weeks over his future which he sparked minutes after winning a third straight Champions League title with Spanish giants in May.
The rumor mill went into overdrive when he hinted that he was considering leaving the Santiago Bernabeu. Italian media then reported that Juventus had put in a bid and Spanish sports daily Marca cited reports of Ronaldo looking for a home in Turin.
There was little left for Ronaldo, Real's all-time record goalscorer with 451, to prove in Madrid.
He said he had spent nine fantastic years at the Bernabeu.
"But I think the time has come to open a new stage in my life and that's why I asked the club to accept to transfer me," he said in a statement.
"These years in Real Madrid, and in this city of Madrid, have been possibly the happiest of my life," said Ronaldo in a letter to the club's fans.
"I only have feelings of enormous gratitude for this club, for this fanbase and for this city. I can only thank all of them for the love and affection I have received.”
He joined Italian champions Juventus on a four-year contract for 100 million euros ($117.34 million) signaling the end of nine years at the Madrid filled with trophies and goals.
Real paid tribute to Ronaldo in a lengthy statement on their website and said the player had asked to be transferred.
"Real Madrid announces that it has agreed to transfer Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus FC due to the will and desire expressed by the player," the European champions said.
"Today Real Madrid would like to express its gratitude to a player that has proved to be the best in the world and has carved out one of the most brilliant eras in the history of our club and world football.
"Beyond all the trophies and matches he won on the pitch during these nine years, Cristiano Ronaldo has also been a role model in commitment, hard work, responsibility, talent and a desire to always exceed himself."
Real has topped the La Liga twice and won the Champions League four times during his time there -- Ronaldo is the first player to have five, including one with former club Manchester United.
He is also a five-time world player of the year, a record he shares with his eternal rival, Argentine talisman Lionel Messi.
But in 2016 Ronaldo managed what Messi could not -- winning a major international title for his country -- when he led Portugal to victory in the European Championships.
And with both Portugal and Argentina being bundled out of the World Cup in the second round on June 30, it seems likely that the sport's crowning achievement will elude both partners in football's greatest player rivalry.
Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro was special from an early age.
In the year of his 16th birthday, he played for Sporting Lisbon's under-16, under-17, under-18, reserve and first teams, and two years later he so impressed Alex Ferguson in a 2003 pre-season friendly that the then-Manchester United boss snapped him up.
Six years, three Premier League titles and a Champions League later and he was on his way to Real Madrid, having joined George Best and Eric Cantona among the greatest players to wear United's prized number 7 shirt.
Bought for a then-world record 94 million euros, Ronaldo more than paid back his fee, and while Barcelona continued to mostly dominate La Liga, he has become the king of European competition.
He was the first player to score 100 Champions League goals and topped the competition's scoring charts six times. The 17 goals he scored as Real beat local rivals Atletico to the 2014 title remains a single-season record.
He finally got the international monkey off his back with the 2016 Euros win after a lifetime of near misses and flattering to deceive on the world stage.
In beating the heavily-favored hosts France in the final, he broke yet another record -- his three goals made him the first player to ever score in four European Championships.
Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos saluted Ronaldo’s achievements, tweeting: “Cristiano, your goals, your numbers and everything we've won together speak for themselves. You've earned yourself a prominent place in the history of Real Madrid. The Madristas will always remember you. It's been a pleasure playing by your side. Big hug and good luck!"
Ronaldo will be looming at Juventus in European competitions as he continues to rack up records and build his case for being considered the greatest of all time.
