Ronaldo told me he was staying at Juventus

Cristiano Ronaldo has told Juventus he is staying at the club this season, manager Massimiliano Allegri told a press conference on Saturday.

Earlier this week, Ronaldo lashed out at transfer rumors about his future, accusing people of being ‘disrespectful’ without however committing to his future with the Serie A giants.

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But ahead of Sunday’s opener against Udinese, Allegri said: “Cristiano has always trained well and has never expressed his desire to leave Juventus.

« He told me he was left, so we can clear that up. » « 

Ronaldo, who has a year left on his contract, joined Juventus for € 100m in July 2018 and the Spanish late-night TV show El Chiringuito claimed on Monday night that a sensational return to Real Madrid was on the agenda.

Real Madrid coach Ancelotti distanced himself from Ronaldo before the Portugal international broached his future on Instagram.

He wrote: “Anyone who knows me knows how focused I am on my job. Less talk and more action has been my guiding motto since the start of my career. However, in view of all that has been said and written recently, I must make my position clear.

“More than the disrespect for me as a man and as a player, the frivolous way my future is covered in the media is disrespectful to all the clubs involved in these rumors, as well as their players and their staff. My story at Real Madrid has been written. It was recorded. In words and numbers, in trophies and titles, in records and headlines. It’s at the Bernabeu stadium museum and it’s on the minds of all fans of the club as well.

“I remember over the past nine years I have had a relationship of deep affection and respect for ‘merengue lover, ‘an affection and a respect that I retain to this day, and that I will always cherish. I know that real Real Madrid fans will continue to have me in their hearts, and I will have them in mine. « 

Rumors surrounding Ronaldo’s future continued when he missed a training match against the Juventus youth team on Thursday.

“Ronaldo didn’t play on Thursday because we were coming off a heavy training load and I gave him a half day off,” Allegri added.

 » [He] is a plus for us because it guarantees a large number of goals. Obviously, we also have to work as a team to get the most out of an individual. «