The manager of Juventus, Massimiliano Allegri has stressed that he decided to start Cristiano Ronaldo from the bench contrary to reports that it was Ronaldo’s decision.
Reports in Italy claimed that Cristiano Ronaldo is ready to leave Juventus and the Italian club are ready to sell him. However, no serious buyer has come for his services yet.
Also, media in Italy claimed that before Juventus played against Udinese on Sunday, August 22, 2021, Ronaldo urged coach Massimiliano Allegri to start him from the bench.
According to unverified reports, the reason why Ronaldo asked coach Massimiliano Allegri to start him from the bench was to give him room to regain his fitness level ahead of his potential exit from the club to a yet to be named club.
However, after the Italian Serie A game that ended 2-2, coach Massimiliano Allegri insisted that he and Ronaldo never had such a conversation. The veteran coach said it was his decision for Ronaldo to start from the bench.
Allegri said: “I had talked to him before the game, telling him he would start on the bench.
“He made himself available, he did well when he entered the pitch.”
During the game, coach Allegri decided to replace Morata with Ronaldo in the 59th minute when Juventus were leading Udinese 2-1. About 23 minutes after the introduction of Ronaldo, Udinese equalized 2-2.
When it was looking like the match would end in a 2-2 draw, Ronaldo scored his trademark header which ought to be the game’s winner.
Unfortunately for him, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) canceled the goal after a lengthy review of the goal. The replay showed that Ronaldo was offside by an inch.
Before the goal was canceled, Ronaldo had celebrated so much that he had to take off his shirt. His mode of celebration forced the referee to award him a yellow card which stood even though the VAR had canceled the goal.
On the outcome of the game, Massimiliano Allegri said: “We played a good game. We should have done better in the second half, where we were unable to manage unexpected events. This must serve as a lesson to us.”
Cristiano Ronaldo has a season left on his contract with Juventus. He is expected to renew his contract with the Italian giants before next winter.
However, reports in Italy claimed that the 36-year-old Portuguese football icon is more likely to leave the club than staying.
So far, it is looking like if he is not able to renew his contract with Juventus, he might move to Paris Saint Germain to be a part of the dream team the owner of the French club, Nasser Al-Khelaifi is trying to build alongside Lionel Messi.
In one of the series of interviews after the Juventus vs Udinese league game on Sunday, DAZN asked Juventus vice-president Pavel Nedved whether Ronaldo started from the bench because of his plans to leave the club, the Vice President claimed that it was a fitness-related decision.
“We mustn’t try to create sensational stories where there aren’t any,” said Nedved.
“It was a decision shared with the player. At the start of the season, naturally, he is not at top fitness.
“The coach is trying to use the best line-up at this moment.
“I can absolutely confirm Ronaldo will remain at Juventus this season.”
