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PHOTOS: Champions Real Madrid paint the town white during parade

May 28, 2018 12:35 IST

Real Madrid's captain Sergio Ramos (right) shows off the trophy to their fans with his teammate Marcelo (left) as they celebrate their Champions League trophy during the bus parade at Cibeles Square in Madrid on Sunday

IMAGE: Real Madrid team celebrate their trophy at Cibeles Square. Photograph: Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

Real Madrid supporters urged Cristiano Ronaldo to stay at the club during celebrations at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium on Sunday to mark their third consecutive Champions League title after an open-top bus parade through the Spanish capital.

 

Ronaldo had overshadowed Madrid's 3-1 win over Liverpool in Saturday's final in Kiev to lift a record-extending 13th European Cup by dropping a hint that he was about to leave the club in an interview moments after collecting the trophy, declaring "it was beautiful to be at Real Madrid".

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates with fans

IMAGE: Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates with fans. Photograph: Javier Barbancho/Reuters

The Portuguese looked in a far better mood during the celebrations in Madrid and lifted supporters' hopes that he would not be leaving by declaring "See you next year" while the team were gathered at the Cibeles fountain where they traditionally celebrate trophy wins.

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates during victory celebrations 

IMAGE: Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates during victory celebrations. Photograph: Sergio Perez/Reuters

Ronaldo was given a hero's welcome at the Bernabeu as fans chanted his name and sang "Cristiano please stay".

Madrid's all-time top scorer then gave an optimistic speech on the pitch, saying: "I feel proud to play at the biggest club in the world. I'm very comfortable here. With these players it's impossible not to win."

Real Madrid team celebrate their trophy at Cibeles Square 

IMAGE: Real Madrid's captain Sergio Ramos (right) shows off the trophy to their fans with his teammate Marcelo (left) as they celebrate their Champions League trophy at Cibeles Square. Photograph: Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

Thousands of supporters turned out to greet Zinedine Zidane's history-making side, who began their celebrations with a service at the Almudena cathedral before visiting the city chambers and later the city hall, addressing gathered fans in the Plaza del Sol.

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane is thrown in the air by his players during celebrations at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium on Sunday 

IMAGE: Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane is thrown in the air by his players during celebrations at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium on Sunday. Photograph: Denis Doyle/Getty Images

"Fortunately, this is turning into a routine for us," said Real captain Sergio Ramos of his team, who became the first side since Bayern Munich in 1976 to win the competition three years in a row.

Real Madrid players celebrate at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium on Saturday 

IMAGE: Real Madrid players celebrate at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium on Saturday. Photograph: Denis Doyle/Getty Images

"The team received support when we needed it the most and this also belongs to you. Now we have to think about winning number 14, because that's what this club obliges us to do."

Source: REUTERS
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