Above: Ronaldo pictured at the 2018 World Cup as Portugal's captain — he moved to Juventus directly after the competition.

As the cross came in, there was only one thing on his mind. Without hesitation, Cristiano Ronaldo span and launched himself upside down, connecting perfectly with the ball and launching an unstoppable overhead kick into the back of the net. Almost instantly, supporters in the Curva Sud – home to the most hardcore Juventus followers – rose from their seats, their vociferous applause saluting the genius of the Portuguese megastar.

That they did so while he was playing for Real Madrid seemed to strike a chord with the man himself, as he explained upon his next visit to Turin. Indeed, just three months after eliminating the Bianconeri from the Champions League, CR7 was back in town for very different reasons as a transfer to Juve stunned almost everyone.

Signed at a cost of €112 million and paid more per week than any player in Serie A history, Ronaldo openly admitted that the recognition from Juve supporters back in April had played a part in his decision. 

“Receiving that standing ovation was really a stunning moment for me,” Ronaldo said at his inaugural press conference. “It’s so rewarding and it gives me extra motivation to make the fans happy as I start this new adventure.”

As well as a desire to test himself in a different environment after nine years in the Spanish capital, the former Manchester United man also admitted that he hoped to bring European glory with him. 

“I know that the Champions League is a trophy that every club would like to win,” the 33-year-old continued. “Juventus is no different and they've come extremely close in recent seasons. It’s a difficult competition to win, but I will be doing my best to help this team be successful.”

That was unquestionably an understatement as, despite dominating Italian football, the Bianconeri have been unable to translate their success onto the continental stage. They have won no fewer than seven consecutive Serie A titles, adding four triumphs in the Coppa Italia for good measure yet twice they have come up short in the Champions League.

It has been 23 years since Juve last tasted glory in UEFA’s elite competition and a desire to improve that record is undoubtedly a major reason they were willing to invest so heavily in Ronaldo last summer.

Six months have now passed since he signed that lucrative contract to become a Juventus player, and the benefits of his arrival are clear to see. Speaking on the same day as Ronaldo’s move was confirmed, the club’s sporting director revealed that his new teammates were almost as excited as those same fans who cheered Ronaldo’s goal for Real Madrid.

“I have received so many messages from our players, who are very excited about Cristiano joining us,” said Fabio Paratici. “Everyone is in high spirits and I believe that this represents a significant step towards raising our standard even further.”

That joy has been evident on the field where, almost to a man, the entire squad has delivered improved performances as they look to match CR7’s tireless dedication and relentless desire to be the very best. Thriving in attack next to Ronaldo, Mario Mandzukic has already scored more goals this season (eight) than he managed in the entire 2017/18 season (five), while the likes of Joao Cancelo and others have also shone brighter than ever.

As a result, it is no surprise to see the Old Lady once again sitting top of Serie A, undefeated after 19 rounds of action and already nine points clear of her domestic rivals with just half the campaign left to play. In Europe, too, the results have been impressive as the Bianconeri defeated Manchester United at Old Trafford and Valencia at the Mestalla on their way to finishing top of Group H.

While the improvement in Juve’s other players has been clearly evident, Ronaldo has hardly been a spectator. His 14 league goals thus far make him Serie A’s leading scorer and include no fewer than four match-winning efforts, while his tally of five assists ranks third in the division behind only Dries Mertens of Napoli and AC Milan winger Suso.

As usual, Ronaldo has also delivered in the Champions League. He might have only netted once so far in the competition, but the quality of his strike against Manchester United was almost as breathtaking as that volley for Real Madrid back in April.

What a goal by @Cristiano
Priceless! #CR7 #JuveMUFC #Juventus #ManchesterUnitedJuventus pic.twitter.com/4wiZaKsYL7

— Raj Dhami (@RajDham94649126) November 7, 2018

“Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal was extraordinary,” Max Allegri told Sky Italia shortly after the final whistle, but the Juve boss was happy to demand even more from his newest star just days later. 

“He is not any different from what I imagined,” said the coach during an interview with Portuguese newspaper Record. “He wants to be the best every day and that’s an important value that helps us all. I’m not surprised, I’d rather say that it’s great to see him play because he is a different kind of player.

“Ronaldo’s biggest quality is that he is always focused, both in game and during training.” continued Allegri. “I only want one thing from him: goals. It’s what he knows best and Cristiano is an example for everybody.”

That has certainly been the case during his first six months in Turin and, when the Champions League ends this season, Juventus supporters will be hoping they can give him yet another standing ovation.

Adam Digby is an Italian football writer for FourFourTwo, The Independent, and elsewhere. Author of "Juventus: A History In Black & White." Follow Adam on Twitter.