Juventus legend Leonardo Bonucci shared his thoughts on Cristiano Ronaldo’s time at the club, suggesting that Ronaldo and former coach Maurizio Sarri joined at an inopportune moment.
Speaking on Sky Calcio Club, Bonucci reflected on Ronaldo’s years with Juventus, noting that the combination of Ronaldo and Sarri wasn’t the best fit for the team’s ambitions.
“Cristiano Ronaldo’s arrival at Juventus was meant to strengthen an already powerful squad,” the 37-year-old explained.
“The goal was clear: to win the Champions League. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen, and some unusual dynamics emerged.”
He added, “Allegri was nearing the end of his cycle, then the pandemic hit, and Sarri was trying to navigate managing a team of champions.
“Ronaldo brought energy to the dressing room, but during Sarri’s tenure, he played more as an individual rather than within a team structure. He wanted the freedom to play his way, but Sarri had imposed certain restrictions.”
Bonucci defended Sarri, saying, “People often say Sarri wasn’t a ‘Juventus-style’ manager, but I disagree. The timing wasn’t right. Managing top talents like Ronaldo, Higuain, Dybala, and Douglas Costa all at once is a challenge—you need to be a genius to handle that level of talent.”
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