Ronaldo targets CL glory at Juve

Portuguese stalwart says he is looking for new challenges and that’s why he has joined the Serie A giants

TURIN: Juventus’ record-signing Cristiano Ronaldo has said his move from Real Madrid was a “well thought out decision” as the Portugal forward aims to help his new club win their first Champions League title in more than two decades.

Ronaldo, who joined the Italian champions last week on a four-year contract, added that he did not want to stay in his comfort zone after winning three straight European Cups with Real.

The 33-year-old left Los Blancos as their all-time top scorer with 451 goals in all competitions and won two La Liga titles and four Champions League trophies over nine years.

“I’m a person who likes to think about the present,” he told a news conference on Monday. “I’m still very young and I always liked the challenges, from Sporting, to Manchester (United), to Real (Madrid) and now Juventus.

“It was a well thought-out decision. It is the best club in Italy. It has an outstanding manager (Massimiliano Allegri) and coaches so it was not a difficult decision to take.”

“I am very ambitious and I like new challenges. I hope everything will go very well. Luck always helps but you have to look for it.”

Ronaldo said one of the factors in joining Juve was the standing ovation given to him by the Turin club’s fans on his last visit, when he scored an astonishing overhead kick for Real in the Champions League quarter-finals.

“It was a really stunning moment for me,” he added. “Being welcomed this way is so rewarding. It increases your motivation to start a new adventure.”

The signing of the five-times world player of the year and Champions League top scorer for the last six seasons is a major coup for Juve, who have lifted the Serie A title for the last seven seasons but have not won Europe’s top prize since 1996.

“We are going to fight not only for the Champions League but for the Serie A title,” said Ronaldo. “We know competition will be tough but we must stay concentrated.”

CRISTIANO RONALDO

From: Real Madrid

(͈948.43 crore)

To: Juventus He spoke of assessing his future at Real right after winning the Champions League and he wasn’t bluffing. Within less than two months, he packed his bags and was off to Turin with reports suggesting he would earn £500,000 a week at Juventus.

FRED

From: Shakhtar Donetsk To: Manchester United

(͈478.1 CR)

He may have warmed to bench at the World Cup for Brazil but former greats like Rivaldo among others have great things to say for Fred. The 25-year-old will add steel to the United midfield.

DOUGLAS COSTA

From: Bayern Munich To: Juventus FC