Massimiliano Allegri joined his first press conference as coach of Juventus on Tuesday afternoon. The successor to Andrea Pirlo in Turin hopes for a successful partnership with Cristiano Ronaldo, who threatens to leave the club on a free transfer next year. Allegri also elaborates on the fact that he has twice refused to succeed Zinedine Zidane in Real Madrid’s dugout.
“Ronaldo is a great champion, an extraordinary player and a smart guy,” Allegri opened at the press moment in his praise of the 36-year-old attacker. “I have spoken to Ronaldo and told him that an important year is coming up. His responsibility is greater than three years ago, because there is now a younger squad. Besides scoring goals, I want him to lead the team. I have no doubt that he will score, I just don’t know yet whether he will play in the center or if he will have a more free role in the front. He and Paulo Dybala are cold-blooded finishers, in training they rarely fail for goal.” the Juventus coach compliments his attackers.
Cristiano Ronaldo will leave Juventus on a free transfer in a year’s time
The chance is not great that the attacker will sign in Turin in the short term.
Whether Allegri will also work with Chiellini at Juventus again remains to be seen. The center defender is still enjoying a holiday after winning the European title with the Italian team. “I spoke to him a few days ago,” said chairman Andrea Agnelli, who took a seat next to Allegri in the Juventus press room. “But after 20 years of working together, I don’t want him to just cut off his holiday to sign a new contract. I trust that everything will be fine.”
Allegri emphasizes that he has never doubted a return to Juventus, where he also worked successfully as head coach between 2014 and 2019. “Have I said ‘no’ twice to Real Madrid? Let’s say that was the case this year. I have to thank President Florentino Perez, because he offered me the opportunity to come to his club. I have thought about it “But in the end I refused because of my love for Juventus. This club has given me so much. I really believe in the qualities of this team and coaching them is really a party. Although I know all too well that we have to win with Juventus.” said the returning coach.
Chiellini normally remains the captain of Juventus. Allegri also chooses Dybala as reserve captain. The seasoned Leonardo Bonucci is deliberately skipped by him in the pecking order. “When handing out the captain’s armband, I always look at the players who have been here the longest. Bonucci left here in the meantime, it doesn’t count now. If he wants that captaincy, he should buy one in the fan shop. Leo started at the bottom on his return and is now climbing up, and he knows that all too well.”