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Tag: JUVENTUS

  • Cristiano Ronaldo joins Juventus for £99.2m

    Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has joined Juventus, becoming one of the four most expensive players of all time.

    A deal worth 112m euros (£99.2m) has been reached between the two clubs that has seen the Portuguese sign a four-year deal with the Italian champions.

    Ronaldo, 33, won four Champions League titles in his nine years at Real.

    “The time has come to open a new stage in my life, that’s why I asked the club to accept transferring me,” he said.

    The top two world record transfer fees have been paid out by Paris St-Germain – the £200m they paid Barcelona for Brazil forward Neymar last August, and the fee of around £166m for France forward Kylian Mbappe in July after a successful season on loan with PSG.

    Barcelona also paid Liverpool £142m for Brazil midfielder Philippe Coutinho in January. For Juventus, the fee they will pay for Ronaldo is set to eclipse the £75.3m they paid for forward Gonzalo Higuain from Napoli in July 2016.

    Juventus are set to play Real Madrid in a pre-season International Champions Cup tournament in the United States, with the match taking place at FedEx Field in Washington on Saturday, 4 August.

  • BREAKING: Juventus, Real Madrid agree on £105m Ronaldo deal

    BREAKING: Juventus, Real Madrid agree on £105m Ronaldo deal

    Juventus and Real Madrid have agreed a deal for Cristiano Ronaldo worth in the region of £105m, according to Sky sources.

    It is believed that progress on the deal means an official announcement could be made as soon as Tuesday.

    Juventus president Andrea Agnelli was at Ronaldo’s hotel in Greece on Tuesday as discussions continued over the move.

    At the same time, Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes was believed to be meeting Real Madrid.

    The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has been Real for nine seasons after joining from Manchester United for a then world-record fee of £80m.

    Ronaldo has gone on to become the club’s all-time top scorer with 451 goals for Los Merengues.

    As well as the individual records, Ronaldo has also added two La Liga titles, two Copa del Reys and four Champions Leagues to his trophy collection during his time in Spain.

    Culled from Sky Sports

  • Juventus chief helicopters to Ronaldo hotel ahead of move

    Juventus president Andrea Agnelli has landed in Kalamata and taken a helicopter to Cristiano Ronaldo’s hotel, ahead of a proposed move.

    The Italian club are close to agreeing an £88m deal to sign the five-time Balon d’Or winner from Real Madrid, sky sports reports.

    It is understood that the deal hinges on Tuesday’s meeting with Ronaldo’s agent, Jorge Mendes, and Real Madrid.

    According to reports, talks have been ongoing between Juventus, Madrid and Mendes.

    Ronaldo has spent nine seasons in Madrid, following his then-world record £80m transfer from Manchester United, and has gone on to become the club’s record scorer with 451 goals.

    The Portugal captain has lifted two La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey crowns and four Champions League trophies during his spell at the Bernabeu.

    Sky Sports Spanish football expert Guillem Balague believes that Ronaldo told Los Blancos that he wants to join Juventus this summer, with the reigning European champions ready to let him leave

  • Real Madrid considering £88m Ronaldo bid

    Real Madrid considering £88m Ronaldo bid

    Real Madrid are considering an offer of around 100m euros (£88m) from Juventus for Cristiano Ronaldo.

    The 33-year-old Portugal forward is Real’s all-time top scorer with 451 goals.

    However his age, and Real’s need to reshape a squad that finished 17 points behind La Liga champions Barcelona last season, has encouraged the Italian champions to make their move.

    Ronaldo won his fifth Champions League title with Madrid in May.

    However, following that victory over Liverpool in Kiev, Real boss Zinedine Zidane has left the club and been replaced by former Spain coach Julen Lopetegui.

    The five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s future has been the subject of intense debate over the past few years, and his relationship with Real president Florentino Perez has also been questioned.

    Any move would eclipse Juventus’ record transfer fee of 90m euros (£79m), which they paid for Argentina forward Gonzalo Higuain in 2016.

    It would also be more than the £80m Real paid Manchester United for Ronaldo in 2009.

    BBC

  • Buffon charged by UEFA for aggressive behaviour

    Gianluigi Buffon has been charged by UEFA for aggressive behaviour towards referee Michael Oliver during Juventus’ Champions League elimination by Real Madrid.

    The Italian was sent-off after he confronted Oliver following the award of a late penalty to Real in their quarter-final second leg at the Bernabeu last month.

    In post-match interviews, the 40-year-old Italy veteran criticised Oliver, questioning his ability, and later refused to apologise for his behaviour.

    UEFA also “strongly condemned” subsequent abuse sent to Oliver and his wife.

    UEFA says the case against Buffon relates to “general principles of conduct” and their disciplinary panel will judge the case on May 31.

    Buffon retired from international football after Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup, but reports in Italy have said he may consider a return.

    There have also been reports, however, that he is considering retirement completely from the professional game this summer.

  • Gianluigi Buffon ends Champions League career with bitter heart

    Gianluigi Buffon’s Champions League career came to a bitter end on a crazy night with the Juventus legend sent off in Madrid and then accusing the referee of having “a rubbish bin instead of a heart”.

    The veteran goalkeeper’s frustration spilled over at the Santiago Bernabeu after Juventus beat Real Madrid 3-1 on the night, but were eliminated 4-3 on aggregate in the quarter-final after English referee Michael Oliver awarded the Spaniards a contested 97th-minute penalty.

    “In place of a heart he has a rubbish bin,” raged 40-year-old Buffon after Oliver pointed to the spot for Mehdi Benatia’s challenge on Lucas Vazquez in the dying minutes.

    Buffon was given his first ever red card in 117 Champions League games and after Wojciech Szczesny had taken his place in the Juventus goal, Cristiano Ronaldo coolly slotted home the spot kick to put defending champions Real Madrid through to the semi-finals.

    “You have to be a murderer to make the last two decisions the referee made,” Buffon, the Juve captain, said later.

    “You cannot ruin the dreams of a team. I could’ve told the referee anything at that moment, but he had to understand the degree of the disaster he was creating,” he continued.

    “If you can’t handle the pressure and have the courage to make a decision, then you should just sit in the stands and eat your crisps.”

    It was another blow for the charismatic 2006 World Cup winner who was reduced to tears after Italy dramatically failed to qualify for the global showpiece in November’s playoffs.

    Juventus have finished runners-up twice in the Champions League in the past three years and Wednesday’s defeat was probably Buffon’s last chance to continue his bid for the only major title missing from his collection.

    “I’m not here to judge what the referee saw, because it was a borderline incident,” he said, continuing his diatribe.

    “All I’ll say is that you can’t be that cynical in the 93rd minute, to shatter the dreams of a team that had given everything it had to give.

    “I’ve always found it an honour to go up against this team and this club in front of this crowd, but tonight we deserved extra time at the very least.”

    Juventus president Andrea Agnelli said he could understand Buffon’s fury and called for the introduction of the use of VAR in the Champions League — it is already used in the Serie A in Italy.

    “The referee did not understand anything, and tonight the least happy person of all should be him,” said Agnelli.

    Benatia, whose challenge led to the penalty, said: “It’s unbelievable that our captain isn’t allowed to speak to the referee -– the red card was very harsh.”

     

    (AFP)

  • Real Madrid v Juventus: Ronaldo backs referee over penalty call

    Cristiano Ronaldo could not understand why Juventus protested Michael Oliver’s late decision to hand Real Madrid a penalty and a dramatic aggregate win on Wednesday night in the Champions League last four.

    Lucas Vazquez was brought down in stoppage time by Medhi Benatia, with English referee Oliver pointing to the spot for Ronaldo to convert for a 4-3 aggregate victory.

    In a dramatic match, Juventus had come back to 3-3 in the tie following their 3-0 first-leg defeat, but Ronaldo says Juve’s protests, which saw Gianluigi Buffon sent off, were unfounded.

    “I don’t understand why they are protesting,” he said to reporters after the game. “Lucas was tackled from behind and if they don’t give him the penalty, it’s a goal.”

    Ronaldo, who scored his 120th Champions League goal before celebrating with his shirt off in front of the Real fans, admitted he had to calm himself down before stepping up for the memorable victory.

    “The pulse increased, but I calmed down, and I knew I’d be decisive,” he continued.

    Regarding the events at the Bernabeu, Ronaldo added: “We have suffered, but it helps us to learn.

    “In football, nothing is given away, you have to fight until the end. Madrid could’ve scored more goals, but Juve and Buffon were good.”

    Sky Sports

  • BREAKING: Ronaldo’s late spot kick lift Madrid to Champions League semi-final

    Cristiano Ronaldo showed nerves of steel to score an injury-time penalty and send holders Real Madrid into the semi-finals of the Champions League in dramatic circumstances.

    The Spanish side progressed to the last four despite losing 3-1 to Juventus on Wednesday but won a thrilling tie 4-3 on aggregate.

    Juventus looked to have staged a stunning revival at the Santiago Bernabeu to force extra time after Mario Mandzukic scored twice in the first half.

    Blaise Matuidi added a third on the hour mark after a goalkeeping clanger from Real’s Keylor Navas.

    The goals cancelled out Real’s resounding 3-0 win in Turin a week earlier but Lucas Vazquez won a disputed injury-time penalty.

    Juventus goalkeeper and captain Gianluigi Buffon was given a straight red card for pushing English referee Michael Oliver as he vented his fury at the decision.

    The Italian veteran was given a standing ovation from the home fans as he walked off the pitch in what is likely to be his last act in a long and eventful career in the Champions League.

    Buffon is set to leave Juventus at the end of the season.

    Juve’s substitute goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny came on but Ronaldo blasted into the top corner in the eighth minute of stoppage time to score for the 10th game running in this season’s competition.

    The goal sent Real into the semi-finals for a record-extending eighth year in a row.

    Real were missing influential captain Sergio Ramos through suspension and Mandzukic headed Juventus in front when the game was only 76 seconds old, meeting a sumptuous cross from former Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira.

    The early strike offered the visitors hope of repeating compatriots AS Roma’s incredible second-leg turnaround against Barcelona the previous night.

    The Croatian struck again in the 37th minute, heading beyond Navas, who got a hand to the shot but could not prevent it going in.

    Real had plenty of chances in the first half but Buffon made three strong saves to thwart Gareth Bale, Ronaldo and Isco, who was also denied a goal by the offside flag.

    Raphael Varane also sent a header crashing against the bar from a free kick at the end of the half.

    Real settled down after the interval, taming the visitors and twice firing at Buffon.

    But down the other end Navas spilled a cross from Douglas Costa right at the feet of Matuidi who rolled the ball in to level the tie.

    Madrid soon woke up and produced their best spell of the game as Isco, Varane and Ronaldo all went close while Giorgio Chiellini narrowly avoided scoring an own goal.

    Ronaldo finally got the vital goal they had craved to pile more misery on the Italians, who were beaten 4-1 by Madrid in last season’s final in Cardiff.

  • Dybala double takes Juventus back to top of Serie A

    Paulo Dybala scored twice as Juventus beat Udinese to go top of Serie A.

    Forward Dybala, a reported target for Manchester United, curled home a superb first-half free kick before slotting in a second just after the break from Gonzalo Higuain’s ball.

    Higuain had also missed a penalty after Dybala had been fouled.

    The win means Juventus are on 71 points, two ahead of Napoli – who play Inter Milan later on Sunday – with both sides having played 27 games.

  • UCL: Tottenham fight back for spirited draw at Juventus

    Tottenham produced a brilliant comeback to draw at Juventus after a disastrous start to their Champions League last-16 first leg in Turin.

    Mauricio Pochettino’s side were 2-0 down inside 10 minutes after Gonzalo Higuain followed up a sumptuous volley with a penalty, awarded for Ben Davies’ foul on Federico Bernardeschi.

    Harry Kane started the fightback after rounding Gianluigi Buffon following Deli Alli’s threaded pass and Higuain then missed a penalty for the hosts with the last kick of the first half, following Serge Aurier’s poor challenge on Douglas Costa.

    Spurs dominated possession against the Italian champions and got their reward when Christian Eriksen’s low free-kick evaded Buffon to give Spurs the edge going into the second leg at Wembley on 7 March.

    Spurs remain unbeaten since 16 December, and Pochettino said: “We are more mature. The team is growing and have stepped up in this aspect. I think the team was amazing in the way they reacted.”

     

    BBC