Football: Why Juventus ACTUALLY signed Ronaldo.

Cristiano Ronaldo is an icon of the game and one of the greatest ever to play the sport. He’s enjoyed success at the two biggest clubs in the world, Manchester United and Real Madrid, breaking record after record in the process. After being a part of history in helping Real Madrid secure 3 consecutive Champions League Trophies he shockingly expressed an interest to leave Madrid. Ronaldo would sign for Italian giants Juventus a few months later. But with Ronaldo in the twilight of his career; are Juventus’ motives purely football based?

The world was put on notice after the Champions League Final when Cristiano Ronaldo stunned the world by announcing he would be seeking a new challenge. In his post-match interview Ronaldo said ‘Right now I need to enjoy this moment. Later in the coming days I’ll give an answer to fans, who have always been at my side. It’s been really wonderful to be part of Real, in the next few days I’ll talk more, ok?’

Real Madrid signed Ronaldo nine years ago for the then world record fee of £80 million. Now in his early to mid-thirties Ronaldo has been sold for 100 million. Rarely do you see players go up in value, despite the clock on their career ticking down. But this deal also breaks the norm for Juventus’ transfer dealings. Juventus rarely splash the cash on over seas players and historically wait for players contracts to run down before pouncing such as fellow signing Emre Can who joined for Liverpool this summer                                                        after rejecting a new contract at Anfield.

Despite his age, Ronaldo is still a fantastic player and would improve any side in the world. Over the years Ronaldo’s game has adapted his game from being a pacey winger to a smart, well positioned number 9. The lack of pace in Ronaldo’s game hasn’t prevented him from being a key player for Madrid scoring vital goals, including a stunning bicycle kick against Juventus, to carry his team to a champions league final, which they would eventually win.

The signing of Ronaldo is seen as a feather in the cap of Juventus in pursuit of their deep passion of winning the Champions league. Over the last few years Juventus have been the ‘nearly men’ of European football reaching the final and coming close in both 2015 and 2017 but losing out to Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively. In typical Italian fashion Massi Allegri’s side boasts one of the best defences in Europe. Club legend Giorgio Chellini leads the Old Lady’s backline which only conceded 24 goals in Serie A last season. Combined with a hardworking, industrious midfield there was only one piece of the puzzle missing. Goals. Ronaldo holds a ridiculous goal scoring record in the Champions League. Since 2007 Ronaldo has scored more Champions League goals than his new club. Ronaldo: 119. Juventus: 102. Juventus hope the capture of Ronaldo will finally see them meet their goal of winning the Champions League.

Football is the world’s most popular sport and has a wide-reaching audience well within the billions, few within in the sport are more popular than 5-time Ballon D’OR winner Cristiano Ronaldo. It is expected that shirt sales worldwide of the famous number 7 shirt will recoup Juventus’ 100 million within 24 hours. Numbers like this are seldom achieved by teams other than mega clubs of, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester United. Having conquered Italy and winning 7 consecutive league titles, signing Ronaldo is a move that shows Juventus are now seek parity with the elite clubs of world football off the pitch as well as on it.

This transfer will without doubt cause a domino affect across Europe, Real Madrid will seek to cover the gap left by Ronaldo and a ripple of uncertainty will spread throughout the continent. Juventus moving early for Ronaldo, in a move that makes financial and footballing sense, has kicked the footballing food chain into life.