Christiano Ronaldo takes $117M Juventus deal
By admin - 2018-07-17 10:14:29

33-year-old Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo has signed with the Italian champions for $117 million after nine years at Real Madrid.

“To come to this club at this stage of my career, I am very happy,” Ronaldo said at his presentation in Turin. He is also noted as saying he hopes to be the “lucky star” as the Italian side attempt to win the Champions League. He added he had not received any other offers.

Ronaldo scored a club record 450 goals for Real, winning four Champions Leagues and La Liga twice, having joined from Manchester United in 2009. A five-time Ballon d’Or winner, including last year, Ronaldo led Portugal to victory at the 2016 European Championship.

“I want to win,” he said. “I want to be the best. Who knows, maybe I will be awarded the Ballon d’Or again but things will happen naturally. It was difficult to win it in Manchester and Real Madrid, but maybe here? We will see.”

Ronaldo said there were “many important things” that contributed to his decision.

“I am different from all the other players who think that their career is over at my age, but I want to show the others that I am different. It is very emotional for me at the club now because I am not 23, I am 33.

Juventus are Italy’s most successful club, having won Serie A 34 times, including the last seven in a row – and the Coppa Italia on 13 occasions. However, they have not won the Champions League since 1996, losing on their past five appearances in the final.