Juventus managing director refuses to rule out move for...
Juventus managing director Giuseppe Marotta has remained tight-lipped on the possibility of the Serie A champions making a sensational move for Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo.
Reports have suggested the reigning Champions League holders are weighing up whether to sell 33-year-old Portuguese forward Ronaldo to the Bianconeri this summer.
Ronaldo has won the Ballon d’Or award, given to the world’s best player, for the past two campaigns and scored 15 times in the Champions League last season as Real won Europe’s premier club competition for a third time in a row.
Cristiano Ronaldo has hinted he could be on the move (Mike Egerton/PA)
However, the Portuguese has dropped hints that he may be looking to leave the Spanish capital and Juve have been linked with his signature in recent days.
Marotta did nothing to downplay those rumours when he was asked by Sky Sport: “Can Juve fans start dreaming about Cristiano Ronaldo?”
Juventus’ managing director responded: “I won’t speak (about that).”
Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice against Juventus in the 2017 Champions League final (Nick Potts/PA)
Ronaldo, Real’s all-time top scorer, has been at Madrid since he made a then-world record move from Manchester United in 2009.
Yet he sparked the suggestion he could be seeking a new club with his comments after the Champions League win over Liverpool in Kiev last month.
Speaking to beIN Sport, Ronaldo said: “In the coming days there will be an answer about my future for the fans, who have always been by my side. It has been very nice playing for Real Madrid.”
Ronaldo has been a thorn in Juventus’ side in recent years, scoring twice in Real’s Champions League final victory in 2017.
In this year’s quarter-final first leg in Turin, he scored a sensational overhead kick that was applauded by Juventus’ own supporters and it was Ronaldo’s late penalty in the second leg that ultimately knocked the Italians out.
Juve midfielder Blaise Matuidi said he would welcome having Ronaldo as a team-mate when he was asked about the possibility during France’s press conference on Wednesday.
“It would be incredible to have one of the best players in the world at Juventus,” he said in quotes published on Marca’s website. “It would be great for the club and for the players. Right now, though, I’m focused on France.”