Ronaldo keeps Juventus perfect
UDINE: Cristiano Ronaldo shrugged off damaging rape allegations to score for Juventus as the Serie A champions beat Udinese 2-0 under the rain in northeastern Italy on Saturday to stretch their lead at the top of Serie A.
The Portuguese striker lashed in the second goal after 37 minutes from the left following a cross from Croatia’s Mario Mandzukic, four minutes after Rodrigo Bentancur’s opener.
It was Ronaldo’s fourth goal this season for Juventus, with the 33year-old celebrating wildly with his teammates, as the Italian champions claimed their tenth consecutive win in all competitions.
Ronaldo remained tight-lipped after the game, giving a thumbs up as he left the dressing room where he was greeted by fans shouting “Cristiano! Cristiano!”
The superstar showed no sign of the immense pressure he is under amid damaging accusations which threaten his multimillion euro sporting empire.
“I don’t know how things are for him at home, I don’t live with him,” said Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri.
“What I know is what I see on the pitch. He trains hard, he is serene and today he scored an extraordinary goal.”
Juventus — with a maximum 24 points from eight Serie A games — open up a nine-point lead on second-placed Napoli.
With the eyes on the world on Ronaldo the match against lowly Udinese, in a small town not far from the border with Slovenia, attracted journalists from as far afield as China.
But the ‘Ronaldo affair’ appeared to have in no way dented the player’s popularity among the fans who packed the 25,000seater Stadio Friuli.
“Stronger than the mud,” headlined Turin daily Tuttosport ,a traditional backer of Juventus, above a photograph of Ronaldo dining with the team this week, and a bigger picture of the star smiling.
“CRSexe,” was the front-page headline on Rome-based Corriere dello Sport on Saturday, referring to the allegations. Another headline said “World of Juve shaken” after the club’s share price plunged almost 10 percent on Friday.
However, the Italian club’s reaction to the issue has angered some fans as “dismissive” and “insensitive.”
Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici, nevertheless, underlined the club’s support on Saturday.
“We have already made clear our total support for the player, who has always been very active on social issues and been a great professional beyond reproach, as confirmed by his teammates,” Paratici told Sky Sport Italia.
“We are behind him all the way. He has been an exemplary professional and an exemplary person throughout his career.”
Before Saturday’s game Ronaldo had received encouragement from his mother.
“Best wishes son for you and your team, because together we are stronger. Go Juventus,” wrote Maria Dolores Alveiro on Instagram, alongside a photo of Ronaldo embracing her.