Juventus captain also thinks that the Bianconeri paid for Cristiano’s sudden departure in terms of points; Massimiliano Allegri’s men started the Serie A campaign with just two points in four games and were in the relegation zone for a week.
In a recent interview, the Juventus centre-back Chiellini claimed that it would’ve been better for the club had Cristiano Ronaldo left earlier in the summer window.
The Portuguese secured a return back to Manchester United on the final days of the window – after it looked like he was close to joining rivals Manchester City, initially – leaving Juve little time to find a replacement.
“Ronaldo left on August 28, it would have been better for us if he had left earlier.
We paid something for it, a little bit of a shock, we paid something for it in terms of points. If he had left earlier we would have had time to prepare better.”
he told DAZN.
Despite the departure of their talisman, Chiellini isn’t disappointed. Italy’s Euro-winning captain thinks that Ronaldo and Juventus had reached a point in their relationship where separation was inevitable.
🗣: “We had arrived at a point in our relationship where Cristiano needed new goals and a team that would play for him, because when he finds a team like that he is decisive. He is proving it in these months and he has also shown it with us."
— Bianconeri Zone (@BianconeriZone) October 21, 2021
[Chiellini / @DAZN_IT]
Ronaldo ended his three-year-long stay in Turin – during which he netted 101 goals in 134 appearances – by returning to Old Trafford.
In those three years, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner helped Juventus win the Serie A twice, back-to-back, but success eluded him on the continental stage, where the best the Bianconeri could muster was a quarter-final finish.
Back in Manchester, Ronaldo has started the season on a positive note, personally. The 36-year-old has netted six times in eight games already, including all three Champions League ties.
