CRISTIANO RONALDO must be “preserved” now he is reaching the latter stages of his career, says his Juventus boss Maurizio Sarri.
The Portuguese superstar has been criticised for some quiet displays since the restart after the coronavirus outbreak.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain celebrate the Juventus win over LecceCredit: Getty Images – Getty
But Ronaldo looked almost back to his best as Juventus thrashed Lecce 4-0 on Friday.
Former Chelsea boss Sarri says he knows Ronaldo needs to be wrapped in cotton wool – but trusts the ex-Man Utd star will also realise when it is time to quit.
The player, who moved from Real Madrid in 2018 for £100million, will turn 36 in February, halfway through next season.
Sarri said after Friday’s win: “For us he is very important. He is powerful, one of the strongest centre forward in the world right now. He can be decisive for us at the end of the season.
“He had a difficult time on a personal and global level, because the coronavirus emergency hit him a lot and left a mark on him.
“He needs to improve after the break and he is doing so match after match.
“He needs to play a lot. In the future we will find the way to preserve him across matches or for some matches.
“He has returned, had a minor injury and is now getting back into shape. I am happy that he scored immediately, he is a player who will give us a lot in this season finale.
“He is great in listening to himself and he will realise when he will need to stop and rest. But now I think he fits quite well.”
After a goalless opening first half during which saw Lecce defender Fabio Lucioni red-carded, Juve ran riot in the second 45.
Paulo Dybala, Ronaldo, Gonzalo Higuain and Matthijs de Ligt all found the net in the second half.
Ronaldo set up Dybala to score a brilliant 53rd-minute opener before getting the second from the penalty spot nine minutes later.
Sarri’s men are seven points clear as they close in on a ninth successive Serie A title.
Cristiano Ronaldo told Nani he will ‘probably’ play in MLS with David Beckham’s Inter Miami desperate for transfer
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
