Cristiano Ronaldo’s blistering start to life at Manchester United (again) hasn’t gone down too well with his former teammates at Juventus, it seems. the 36-year-old left the Turin club towards the end of the window and since his departure, they have struggled for form.
Juventus star and captain Giorgio Chiellini commented on Ronaldo’s exit earlier this week, insisting the Portugal international should have left the club earlier than he did. Furthermore, Chiellini admitted their reliance on Ronaldo was hurting the team.
Clearly, the defender’s comments haven’t been well received by Ronaldo, who has now hit back at his former teammate ahead of Sunday’s mouthwatering clash with Liverpool at Old Trafford.
“I know when the team needs my help defensively. But my role in the club is to win, help the team to win and to score goals – it’s part of my job,” Ronaldo told Sky Sports, via Football Italia.
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“The people who don’t want to see that is because they don’t like me but to be honest, I’m 36, I win everything so am I going to be worried about the people who say bad things about me? I sleep good at night. I go to my bed with my conscience very good. Keep going with that because I will still close mouths and win things.
“Criticism is always part of the business. I’m not worried about that. And I see it as a good thing to be honest. If they worry about me or they speak about me, it’s because they know my potential and value in football still. So it’s good. I’ll give you an example: if you’re in a school and you’re the best student, you ask the worst student if he likes the best, they’ll say they don’t like him.”
Stretty News Verdict
The addition of Ronaldo does come with its complications for Manchester United but with six goals in his first eight games since returning to the club, it’s proving to be shrewd business by the club.
Chiellini’s frustrations likely stem from his own side’s poor start to the season and in truth, replacing the top goalscorer in the Serie A with just days remaining in the window is nearly impossible.
