The Bianconeri boss fuelled speculation over the future of Cristiano Ronaldo by leaving him out of the starting line-up at the weekend. The Portuguese mega-star made the game from the bench, appearing for a second-half cameo.
Allegri has denied suggestions that Cristiano Ronaldo refused to start Sunday’s clash with Udinese, amid the speculation regarding his future.
Various reports have claimed that Ronaldo asked Allegri not to include him in the first XI for the league fixture. According to the reports, the Portugal international is still hoping to leave the Old Lady this summer.
A Slow Start for Juventus and Cristiano Ronaldo
Juventus ended up blowing a two-goal lead and drawing 2-2 at Stadio Friuli. Ronaldo saw a last gasp winner ruled out for offside after making a second half appearance.
Allegedly, Ronaldo is seeking a move away from the Allianz the summer window closes. When asked why he chose to name the five-time Ballon d’Or winner among the substitutes, he responded:
“Ronaldo is feeling well. I had talked to him before the game, telling him he would start on the bench. He made himself available, he did well when he entered the pitch, he also scored a goal, but it was disallowed.“
Allegri gave an honest assessment of his side’s performance against Udinese, admitting that a lack of match fitness led to defensive mistakes. They played well, but could not control the game effectively.
The players were sloppy in possession. It could be argued that fatigue had caught up to them. Anyway, they were solid defensively and hardly conceded a shot on target. However, the second goal came due to a goalkeeping error. Wojciech Szczesny failed to clear his lines at the crucial moment.
Reverting back to Cristiano Ronaldo, the 36-year-old still has a year left to run on his deal in Turin. He has been linked with moves to Manchester City, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain. Nonetheless, Juventus are yet to receive a formal offer for him.
