CL regular Ronaldo to boost Juve’s quest
THE July transfer of superstar Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus has dented the hopes of opponents who, beginning this weekend, will try to thwart the Bianconeri’s pursuit of an eighth successive Serie A title.
Most anti-Juve fans tried to play down the affair worth €100 million (RM464m), clinging to the adage that football is still a team game, or that age will soon weigh in for the 33-year-old ace. But the Portuguese’s arrival in Turin is certain to have boosted the Old Lady’s chances to lift the Scudetto when the season ends in late May.
They are currently level with Lyon on seven straight home titles, a record in Europe’s major leagues, and also won the last four Italian Cups.
As the squad met Sunday in the western Alps village of Villar Perosa for a traditional in-house friendly, vice president Pavel Nedved, focused on the Champions League, a trophy that Juve won only twice despite having played nine continental finals.
“Juventus has really taken another step forward in Europe,” the former Bianconeri forward said.
“It’s an exceptional thing to be able to bring (Ronaldo) here because I think it pushes forward our future and also for all of Italian football.”
Ronaldo opened the scoring in a 5-0 hammering of the Bianconeri youth team and delighted fans who still recall how his brace sank Juve as they lost the 2017 Champions League final 4-1 to Real, or the majestic overhead kick that earned him an ovation as another brace sealed a 3-0 win in the quarterfinals at Turin’s Allianz Stadium.
With five Champions League triumphs, the first at Manchester United followed by four in the past five years at Real Madrid, Ronaldo could be the ingredient that Juve missed when they lost two finals in the last four editions.
Coach Massimiliano Allegri relished the four-year signing of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, who seems to gave quickly adjusted to playing alongside Paulo Dybala as Gonzalo Higuain moved to AC Milan.
“I can say that we have bought a great player on the pitch, but above all, I was told that he is a superb professional, and that is certainly the case,” Allegri said.
“If he wasn’t, he would not have achieved what he has done.”
Like Nedved, the coach spoke about the continental event.
“Our Champions League objective is an incentive for everyone, even for the youngest players, to do even better, but it should not distort Juventus’ characteristics, which are to achieve results through commitment, work and sacrifice, just like all the teams that win in Europe,” he said.
Juve’s interest in the trophy, which some say borders on obsession, could be good news for the main Serie A contenders Inter Milan, Napoli and Roma, who play the elite event with minor ambitions.
Like other Scudetto hopefuls, they could be calculating on seeing the Bianconeri lose momentum in the final stretch of the home season as they chase the European title they won in 1985 and 1996. – dpa