JAKARTA - Juventus are untouchable in Serie A. Seven titles in a row show that they are tough compared to any team at the top of Italian football. When the Bianconeri signed Cristiano Ronaldo in 2018, the club set their sights a little higher, to the Champions League.
However, since then, things have not gone according to plan. Although the Portugal captain helped the Old Lady win two more Serie A titles, they have suffered setbacks in Europe with the number 7 in the team.
To make matters worse, this season the Old Lady lost her domestic title for the first time since 2011.
As is likely to happen, all eyes are on the five-time Ballon d'Or winner in recent weeks. He ended several matches without scoring a goal in either Juventus lost or won. CR7 was often seen annoyed at the end of the match.
And once Ronaldo shone by scoring two goals to lead Juventus' comeback win at Udinese on Sunday, his contribution was forgotten as it was on the same day their great rivals Inter Milan won the Scudetto. Ironic!
It was clear from the start of the 2020/21 season that this season would be different for Juventus. AC Milan took the lead for a while, then Inter took over and Juve were never really a contender.
Had they managed to compete in Europe, perhaps their mistakes in the domestic league could be forgiven. However, not for the first time, they were eliminated early against a team they could have defeated.
In Ronaldo's first season in Italy, it was Ajax who beat them. In 2019/20 they failed at the hands of Lyon. Then, this season they lost to Porto.
Of course, Ronaldo cannot be the only person to blame for the Bianconeri's failure in Europe's highest caste competition. But the truth is, Juventus were a better team before they signed him. Yes, the Bianconeri reached two Champions League finals in the three years between 2015 and 2017.
So true! Ronaldo has raised Juventus' global brand, he has made a lot of money for the team off the pitch and he has scored a lot of goals. But Juventus absolutely failed in Ronaldo's three seasons in Turin. That is an inevitable fact.
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