Juventus comment on the future of ‘untouchable’ Ronaldo

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 19 May 2021 15:43 BST
• 2 min read

Juventus continue to seek to quieten speculation over the future of star attacker Cristiano Ronaldo and head coach Andrea Pirlo.

With a wage packet of around €55 million per year, there is a debate as to whether Ronaldo is proving value for money with the Bianconeri, who are struggling both on the field and financially.

READ MORE: Zidane to Juventus? Turin still looks a long way off for Real Madrid boss

Ronaldo, however, continues to prove himself among the game’s elite. This season, he has scored 30 goals in 34 matches, chipping in with four further assists. Little wonder, then, that he has been linked with a possible return to Real Madrid, where he is the club’s all-time leading marksman.

Moreover, the 36-year-old said that he feels he still has much more in the tank.

Juventus vice president Pavel Nedved certainly feeds that way as he told DAZN: “Cristiano Ronaldo will stay at Juventus, he’s untouchable. Also, Andrea Pirlo will be our manager next season.”

Indeed, Pirlo, too, has come under fire. After being hastily promoted to first-team coach only days after arriving to boss the Under-23s, the Italy legend sees his team 10 points behind Serie A leaders Inter and facing a fight just to qualify for the Champions League next season.

Key weeks ahead for Ronaldo, Pirlo and Juventus

Pirlo’s credibility has taken several blows of late, with Juventus crashing out of the Champions League at home to 10-man Porto – a fixture that Ronaldo was also criticised for failing to influence.

That was followed last Sunday by a limp 1-0 home reverse against a Benevento team battling relegation.

Reports in Spain have suggested that Juventus are already sounding over Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane – himself under pressure – over a possible return to the club where he exploded as a player.

The final weeks of the season are bound to have a big impact on the future of Juventus, with any failure to qualify for next season’s Champions League a potentially catastrophic financial blow and one that would throw Ronaldo’s future, particularly, into serious doubt.