Cristiano Ronaldo received a rapturous welcome from 80,000 Real Madrid fans on Monday, an outpouring so exuberant the soccer star had to be hustled away when spectators leaped barriers and took the field. A beaming Ronaldo came out to the capacity Santiago Bernabeu crowd wearing the same No. 9 jersey as Madrid great Alfredo di Stefano wore. "I'm very happy to be here. I've achieved one of my dreams," Ronaldo, who agreed to a six-year deal, said. "I want this to begin as quickly as possible so that I can show what I can do."

Fans had queued outside the Bernabeu from the early morning to catch a glimpse of the 24-year-old, who completed a lap of honor to salute fans after performing a few juggling tricks. Ronaldo was eventually chased from the field as security failed to contain the crowd, with a few dozen fans jumping the barrier in search of an autograph. One fan managed to evade security to reach the stage and hug Ronaldo, who signed the young man's Madrid shirt. "I never would have imagined that fans would have such a feeling for me," Ronaldo said. "It was impressive. A special moment for me, today."

Only Diego Maradona's presentation at Napoli 25 years ago has rivaled Ronaldo's in terms of the crowds it attracted. Last week, 50,000 greeted Kaka at the Bernabeu. Madrid had been chasing the current world player of the year since 2006, with president Florentino Perez finally securing his signature in an 80 million pound (euro94 million; $131 million) deal. "Today, we present the greatest symbolism of Real Madrid," said Perez, who joined Ronaldo onstage alongside Portugal great Eusebio, Di Stefano, Perez and Madrid's record nine European Cups.

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