After moving from Real Madrid to Juventus in July, Cristiano Ronaldo has lit Serie A alight with his goals, packed out stadia across the peninsula and brought a newfound attention to the league.
In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Portuguese No.7 reflected on his reasons for joining Juventus and the differences with Real Madrid.
“I’m very happy to be here [at Juventus],” Ronaldo began. “The city is very beautiful, the fans are very nice and Juventus is a fantastic club, and an amazing organisation. The players are very humble here, and they work a lot. The impression I have is fantastic.”
With a squad containing the likes of Paulo Dybala, Mario Mandzukic, Douglas Costa and Miralem Pjanic, as well as defenders like Alex Sandro, Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci, Ronaldo didn’t want to name the player who has made the biggest impression on him.
“It isn’t right to name someone specific,” the No.7 continued, “but I can say that this is the best group in which I’ve played. Here, we are a squad, elsewhere, some players feel bigger than the others, instead here, everyone is on the same level, they are humble and want to win.
“If Dybala or Mandzukic don’t score, they are still happy and you see them smile. For me it is beautiful, to feel that difference. Also at [Real] Madrid they are humble, but here I feel that sense more. It’s very different to Madrid, here it is more of a family.
“For me, facing Madrid [in the Champions League] is the same. The past is the past, now I want to win with Juve. I have to defend these colours and nothing else matters. If I play against Madrid, I will try to give my best.”
With speculation rife that a plethora of Real Madrid players could follow Ronaldo to Juventus, the Portuguese star has poured cold water on the idea, insisting that the Bianconeri don’t need them.
“I see stories about James [Rodriguez], [Gareth] Bale, [Marco] Asensio,” Ronaldo went on, “but honestly, Juventus don’t need any other players. You have to talk to the president. In the future, I don’t know. Marcelo is great, the doors are open for the great player and Marcelo is one of them.
“I had some [other] options [in the summer], I won’t say which ones, but I had them. I thought Juventus were a solid club, which has history, made it to two of the last Champions League finals, and have won the Scudetto seven times in a row.
“I thought about what I felt when I played here, the atmosphere. It was small details that made a big difference. The stability, the president’s approach, the fans. Now, I’m sure, 100 percent, that it was the best option.
“The mentality in general in Italy is different. Here the teams are more preoccupied with defending than attacking. Also the organisation is different, like the mentality. It is more relaxed in Spain, here we have to concentrate more, and work harder.”
Having worked under the likes of Jose Mourinho, Zinedine Zidane and Sir Alex Ferguson, Ronaldo was asked where he placed Massmiliano Allegri on the list of coaches he has had.
“It is difficult to say, as I’ve only worked with Allegri for a short time,” Ronaldo said. “What I can say is, that he is very professional, serious, and a great coach, a type of coach that is very fun to play for.
“One of the best qualities, is that he speaks very directly, to the person. You never wonder who he is speaking to when he says something.
“One time he said to us ‘don’t dribble, your job is to run and pass’. He is very honest. You think ‘he can’t say that’ but he says it, then smiles, and gives you a hug. He is very intelligent, professional and funny at the same time.
“I play these games with Dybala, Mandzukic, Khedira and in 99 percent of cases I win, maybe a bottle of wine or some euros. In the dressing room I have a collection of three bottles and €200-300.”
When talking about Ronaldo, there comes the inevitable mention of Lionel Messi. The pair went toe-to-toe for many years in LaLiga, and the Portuguese star laid down own the gauntlet to his adversary.
“There isn’t a competition between me and Messi,” Ronaldo stated. “I do my work, and I have had success at every club and this is what is most important.
“I don’t like to compare myself to others, it isn’t right. The numbers speak for themselves, if you look at the statistics you will see. I have tried to be successful at every club and with the national team, I don’t have to prove anything.
“I also changed my life, I left my comfort zone, I accepted this challenge and everything has gone well. I believed in myself and proved to the people that I am still an incredible player.
“No [Messi doesn’t miss me], maybe I miss him a little. I have played in England, Spain, Italy, Portugal, with the national team, while he has stayed in Spain. Maybe, he needs me more.
“For me, life is a challenge, I like it and I like to make it happy. I would like him to come to Italy one day. Do what I did, accept the challenge. However, if he is happy there, I respect that.
“He is a great player, a great guy, but here I don’t miss anything. This is my new life and I am happy.”
Juventus are among the favourites for this season’s Champions League, and have already qualified for the knockout stages with a game to spare, though Ronaldo isn’t taking anything for granted.
“This isn’t an individual sport,” Ronaldo said. “I am sure of my potential but the sport is a collective one. I always say the Champions League cant be an obsession, you need to think about it calmly.
“Real went many years without winning, and La Decima was a massive obsession. While the moment that you win it the moment that you can relax mentally.
“The Champions League is a dream? Yes, everyone wants it, but we have to get there step by step. Watch the game against Manchester United, if it had been a quarter-final we would have been out. You need a bit of luck, the right moment and the little details.”
On Saturday, Juventus take on Torino in the Derby della Mole, a match that the Granata last won in 2015, though this time they face a Bianconeri unbeaten in Serie A this season.
“One of the warehouse workers told me this morning ‘Please, beat Torino, otherwise my grandmother…’,” Ronaldo continued, “I realised that the Juventini refuse to lose two games; the one against Inter and the one against Torino. A derby is always special, and we have to win.
“On the pitch, I try to do everything, if you don’t train you lose that touch. Here at Juventus, I have learnt different things in physical, emotional and mental terms. For example, I’m still adapting to Mandzukic, Dybala, and Douglas Costa and the others.
“On the pitch, I always try to improve my fitness, and to learn to do the right thing. The other day, I had a back pain because, I did too many weights, they told me ’try this exercise’ and the pain went away. I said to myself ‘hey, I know my body very well, he advises me an exercise and works’. What it means is that you can always improve.
“No one is perfect, maybe I’m not the most patient. Six or seven years ago, I wasn’t very patient, but now I’m better. Defects? I certainly have some but… maybe I’m getting better with age.
“Sometimes my friends and my family say ‘Hey, you know you’re Cristiano Ronaldo? You can’t do that’ I forget from time to time, but that is a good thing. If I thought about winning everything, to have money and success, I would be lazy and not work hard. I prefer not to know, sometimes it is better to forget that you are Cristiano.
“I try to be nice to everyone but sometimes it’s hard, especially in Italy. If I find myself at the traffic lights, people sometimes see me, stop the car and come to take pictures. I’m not the best person in the world, but I try to be respectful, especially with children. Children are special, innocent.”
Finally, Ronaldo was asked about the importance he places on the Ballon d’Or and he was quite clear… he should win, every time.
“I think I deserve it [the Ballon d’Or] every year,” he stated. “I work for that, but if I don’t win it’s not the end of the world. I respect the decision.
“On the field, I have done everything to win, the numbers don’t lie, but don’t think that I’m less happy if I don’t win. I have great friends and a family, I play for one of the best clubs, you think I go home and start crying? Of course I’m disappointed, but life goes on and I will work even harder.
“Anyway, congratulations to Modric, he deserves it, but next year we’ll see each other again and I’ll do everything to be there again.”
