CRISTIANO RONALDO exclaimed ‘I’m back, that’s what’s important’ after a double for Juventus put him back in the race for the Serie A Golden Boot.
Ronaldo, 35, made a triumphant return for the Old Lady after shaking off Covid-19 as he bagged a second-half brace off the bench in the 4-1 win over Spezia on Sunday.
Cristiano Ronaldo beamed as he announced his return
Ronaldo spoke after scoring two goals for Juventus off the bench
Ronado’s brace took his tally to five goals for Juventus in Serie A this seasonCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The former Real Madrid man turned super sub for Andrea Pirlo’s side after storming off the sidelines to net his first goal just 126 seconds after entering the fray in the 56th minute.
His second, a cheeky panenka spot-kick in the 76th minute, helped seal the three points for Juve who moved into third place in the league.
And after the game, via Tuttosport, a grinning Ronaldo told Sky Sport in Italy: “I have been standing still for a long time despite having no symptoms and feeling fine.
“Today I went back to doing what I like, playing football.
“The Serie A is a competitive league. There is AC Milan doing a great job, Lazio, Napoli…
“We have to work hard, but we are growing.
“The controversy over the swab test? Cristiano is back. This is the important thing.”
Ronaldo had previously slammed the PCR testing as ‘bulls***’ in a quickly-deleted furious Instagram comment after he tested positive for a THIRD time.
Manager Andrea Pirlo only pockets £1.6million-per-year after taking charge of the club
Former Chelsea flop Alvaro Morata – who had a hat-trick of goals disallowed for offside against Barca – had opened the scoring while Adrien Rabiot completed the rout.
The Portuguese superstar’s two goals took his tally for the league season up to five.
But it was only enough to go into joint third on the Golden Boot ladder.
Another golden oldie in Swede Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 39, is leading the way with the AC Milan forward having notched seven goals in just four matches.
Ex-Manchester United forward Zlatan has played one more game than Ronaldo – whose five goals have come in three appearances.
Ibrahimovic’s latest strike was a stunning bicycle kick winner against Udinese which cemented the Rossoneri’s place at the top of the table.
Last season’s Lazio goal machine and European Golden Boot winner Ciro Immobile is languishing down in 15th on the list of Italy’s top scorers after only mustering three goals in his five appearances.
Watch Cristiano Ronaldo keep up fitness with run in coronavirus quarantine as Juventus star pulls off ‘Siu’ celebration
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
