Juventus CEO, Mauricio Arrivabene, has weighed into the plight of Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United. Recall that Ronaldo left Juventus in 2019 for Manchester United for £12.85m, sealing a deadline transfer.
Cristiano Ronaldo sealed a deadline transfer to join Manchester United; a switch he called a ‘triumphant transfer.’
Evidently, the table has turned since the five times Ballon d ‘Or winner returned to the Old Trafford club.
There were flashes of hope in the first few opening matches for the team after returning from the Old Ladies. He scored twice in his second debut for the team in a 4-1 win over Newcastle. He scored a last-minute winner against Villareal in the Champions League on 2o September 2021. He also bagged a brace in a 3-2 home victory over Arsenal on December 2, 2022. Against Tottenham Hotspur on March 12, 2022, Ronaldo scored all three goals, securing his first hat-trick since his return from Juventus.
He won the Premier League player of the Month in April and was voted into the Premier League team of the year. He had a total of 24 goals for the Red Devils last season.
Despite a seemingly brilliant run, he ended the season without a trophy for the first time in 11 years. Also, Manchester United finished in the 6th position, failing to qualify for the Champions League.
At the end of last season, Ronaldo’s frustration started after United failed to qualify for the Champions League. Meanwhile, the management of the club has decided to slash players’ wages by 25% due to the club’s failure to qualify for the Champions League.
Uncertainties over the future of Cristiano Ronaldo mounted when he made it clear in the middle of last season that the team must not finish below the Champions League spot if he must stay.
Manchester United failed to qualify for the Champions League, and he had requested to leave the club for a club with Champions League football.
His request was disapproved by Manchester United, who insisted that he is not for sale.
Ronaldo still has a year remaining in his Manchester United contract. Meanwhile, all the clubs he was linked to distance themselves from him, although he was willing to accept a pay cut to join any Champions League team.
Ronaldo did not join Manchester United preseason and has fallen out of Erik Ten Hag’s pecking order due to fitness concerns.
Although Erik Ten Hag had admitted that he wanted to work with Ronaldo, he has raised concerns about his fitness level since he did not join the pre-season tour.
This has seen the high-rated playmaker dropped to the bench in Man United’s opening Premier League match against Brighton. Ronaldo has started from the bench in five of Man United’s six Premier League fixtures, raising more speculations on whether he will stay at Old Trafford or not.
Juventus CEO, Maurizio Arrivabene, Reacts
Juventus CEO Maurizio Arrivabene has reacted to Ronaldo’s current plight at Manchester United. After being pressed for comments on the 37-year-old Portugal international, Arrivabene admitted that they had parted ways with Ronaldo and should not be drawn into his current plight.
“We separated ways at Juventus with mutual respect, then what happened at Manchester United is no longer our problem”, Maurizio Arrivabene said.
Arrivabene expressed his sympathy for the Portugal international but maintained that it was none of Juventus’ business.
“We are sorry to see him in a situation that is not pleasant for him and for the team. He’s no longer our problem”, Maurizio Arrivabene added.
Ronaldo’s wanted to leave for Champions League football but could not secure a move before the transfer window closed. Now, he has to break into Erik Ten Hag’s first team if he must restore his dwindling fortunes at Old Trafford.
