CRISTIANO RONALDO reportedly left the Allianz Stadium before the final whistle of Juventus’ 1-0 Serie A win over AC Milan on Sunday after being substituted for the second match in a week.
Paulo Dybala replaced Ronaldo on 55 minutes with the Argentina striker going on to score the winning goal 22 minutes later to keep Juventus top in Serie A ahead of Inter Milan.
Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo looked glum as he came off and directed some words at coach Maurizio Sarri before heading to the changing rooms and Sky Sport Italia reported that the 34-year-old had left the stadium three minutes before the match finished.
However Sarri said he did not know whether Ronaldo had left the stadium early.
“Disrespectful to his team-mates? Like I said, I don’t know,” Sarri said. “If it’s true that he left before the end it is a problem to be resolved with his team-mates.”
“I have no problem with Cristiano, he should be thanked because he made himself available despite not being in the best condition,” said Sarri.
“In the last month he has had discomfort in his knee and this is a little problem for him.”
Ronaldo had reacted furiously after been substituted in his team’s 2-1 win against Lokomotiv Moscow midweek, which saw Juventus advance to the Champions League last 16.
“The important thing is that he made himself available. If he gets angry when he comes out this is part of the game,” continued the Juventus coach.
“It’s only natural a player is going to be irritated about leaving the pitch, especially when he worked so hard to be there.
“All players who are trying to give their best will have at least five minutes of being annoyed when they are substituted, but a coach would in general be much more worried if he didn’t seem upset.”
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Removing all doubt, if any still existed, that he is an egotistical manchild.
@Dan: you have to take the good with the bad, he may be a little into himself so to speak, but that’s part of the make up that makes him the 2nd best footballer in the world over the last 15 years…….. IMO. Of course. :)
@Devilsavocado: totally agree! Except im my humble opinion he is number 1
His obsession to be the greatest footballer of his generation, drives him to want to play every minute and score as many goals as possible irrespective of the competition. He wants the stats (goals scored, assists, leagues/cups won etc) that keep him rivalling Messi for the title of GOAT. He knows himself that he can’t compete with the genius and instinctual brilliance of LM. But he does feel if can win more and score more, he will be a shoe in for another ballon d’or which may persuade the footballing public that he is the better footballer. He is an incredible athlete (possibly the greatest athlete to play the game) unfortunately for him, genius will always prevail.
@kieran: well said and very true
@kieran: Meh.
Chiellini would want to have serious words with him or a swift kick up the…
Reportedly
Q d silly season rubbish talk about returning to United. Im sure CR is relishing the day he can play with Fred
@Seanie Bourke: gobs###te
@Seanie Bourke:
Easy now Seanie. Fred is going alright at the moment after some hard times, cut him slack. Ronnie’s a gimp though if those reports are true. Specially after the lad who replaced him won the match. A team player would have been delighted with that decision.
@Seanie Bourke: Liverpool fan Seanie? Is that the same Fred who kept the ‘worlds best’ Liverpool midfielders quiet a few weeks ago?
@A Cos: no a united fan for a long long time. What im saying is the anytime trouble in CR career the press say going bk to united. And if u think Fred is decent im stuck for words.