Manchester United

Manchester United

Premier League • England

Chiellini makes jibe at Manchester United over Ronaldo transfer

Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo (right) looks frustrated during the Premier League match against Everton at Old Trafford, Manchester

Juventus captain Giorgio Chiellini says Cristiano Ronaldo should have left before he did in August and says he moved to a team “more focused on the present rather than on the future”.

The veteran Old Lady defender stopped short of criticising his former team-mate in an interview with DAZN. But the 37-year-old did make it clear that Ronaldo’s late transfer window departure did effect the team negatively.

Ronaldo left Turin for Manchester United on August 28, giving Juve little or no chance to sign a replacement.

Ronaldo has signed a two-year deal with the option of a third, subject to international clearance.

Juve confirmed United were paying £12.86m for Ronaldo plus £6.86m in potential add-ons, in a statement released early on transfer deadline day.

The nature of the forward’s departure rattled Juventus and Alessio Tacchinardi recently took a swipe at Ronaldo, saying the former Real Madrid man flew out while Juve were preparing to play a match. 

The Portuguese star also had one year left on his contract with Juve. And Chiellini has now bemoaned the timing of Ronaldo’s exit.

“Cristiano Ronaldo left on August 28,” Chiellini told DAZN. “This creates a shock and I think we paid him in terms of points in the start of the season.

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“It would have been better had he [Ronaldo] left on August 1 as we would have prepared ourselves and we would have arrived ready for the start of the campaign.”


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Chiellini takes swipe at Man Utd

Juve  picked up just one point from their next three league games after Ronaldo’s departure. They have though steadied the ship since and are sixth in the league table. While they are top of their Champions League group.

“Cristiano needed new stimulus and a team that played for him,” Chiellini added. “When he finds a team like that, he is always crucial and has always proved that even in his three years at Juve.

“A rejuvenation and restart program is underway here at Juventus,” said the Azzurri star. “It is clear that if Ronaldo had stayed it would have been an added value. And we would have gladly exploited it, but it could also have been the case that he decided to restart from a team more focused on the present rather than on the future.”

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