Update: |Scout who discovered Cristiano Ronaldo tragically dies as Man Utd icon pays tribute – ‘thank you’ News

The Manchester United icon has taken to social media to pay tribute to the man who played a significant role in the early stages of his career

The scout who discovered Cristiano Ronaldo early on in his career has passed away, and the former Manchester United star has paid tribute.

It was Aurelio da Silva Pereira who picked up on the talent of Ronaldo during his youth years at Nacional in Madeira. He then brought him to Sporting when Ronaldo was 12 and would go on to flourish in a Lions’ shirt before joining Manchester United, aged 18.

Ronaldo was one of the many talents discovered by Pereira during his extensive years working for Sporting. The likes of Luis Figo, William Carvalho, Paulo Futre, Ricardo Quaresma, Nani and Rui Patricio, to name just a few, were all picked up by Pereira, who previously held a scouting role.

Taking to X, Ronaldo shared a picture of them together and paid his tribute. He wrote: “One of the biggest symbols of world football has left us but his legacy will live on forever. I will never stop being grateful for everything he did for me and for many other players. Until forever, Mr Aurelio, thank you for everything. Rest in Peace.”

Fellow former United and Sporting winger Nani also took to social media to pay his tribute. “Thank you for everything,” he wrote. “You were a big friend, an excellent human being who gave us good and important advice. I’ll never forget everything I learned from you, my friend. Rest in Peace, Mr Aurelio.”

A statement released by Sporting read: “Sporting Clube de Portugal would like to express the condolences on the death of Aurelio da Silva Pereira, who passed away on Tuesday, aged 77. Born on October 1, 1947, he joined Sporting CP to play football and later left to join Clube Futebol Benfica to become a coach.

“He returned to the club to coach the younger teams for around 20 years. In 1988, he created and became head of Recruitment and from then on, his story is more than well-known. He discovered many of the greatest national talents and brought them to Sporting CP, where they grew and thrived and later moved on to the biggest stages of world football.

“From Paulo Futre, to Luis Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo, but also the most younger talents, Aurelio Pereira is largely responsible for the careers of several national football figures over the last 40 years. He was a leader in his profession and a person everyone looked upon. He received two ‘Stromp’ awards and a ‘Golden Lion’ and in 2012, the club named Sporting’s academy and main training pitch after him.

“In 2016, he saw the Portugal national team win the European Championships in France where ten players were discovered by him. Their nickname was ‘The Aurelios.’ In 2017, he received the medal of ‘Sporting Merit’ by the city of Lisbon and in 2018, Uefa awarded him with the ‘Order of Merit’ award, for his unparalleled contribution to the development of Portuguese and European football.

“He will forever be remembered as one of the greatest names in the history of national football and, above all, in the history of Sporting Clube de Portugal. Sporting CP extends its deepest condolences to his family and friends, while also praising and thanking him for his years of effort, dedication, devotion, and the glory he brought while wearing the Lion on his chest.”

Aurelio was honoured at a Portugal national team game in 2019 by Ronaldo.

He previously revealed to Maisfutebol [via The Herald News] how Ronaldo’s move to Lisbon took place over the Easter weekend in 1996, where he spent a week on trial at Sporting.

“By the second day, we decided that he had to stay,” said Pereira. “We were excited about the kid. He had a knack for the ball, speed, imagination. But above all, I noticed the way he completely dominated the environment. He spoke, gave orders, shouted. All the other kids looked at him as a rare thing, as a talent.”

He added: “Talent is not difficult to detect, what is difficult to observe is the mental toughness. I saw many talents that came to nothing. Cristiano Ronaldo was different.

“Many 16-year-old kids from the Azores and Madeira came to Lisbon for a week of testing and on the second day they packed their bags to leave. Ronaldo didn’t. Ronaldo at the age of 11 gave orders to boys who were much older.”

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