CRISTIANO RONALDO has shown his selflessness and class by trying to cheer up dispirited Juventus team-mate Matthijs De Ligt in training.
Superstar Ronaldo and experienced team-mates Gianlugi Buffon and Giorgio Chiellini have been consoling the young Dutchman after he fell down manager Maurizio Sarri’s pecking order in the heart of defence.
Cristiano Ronaldo is said to be cheering up Matthijs De Ligt in Juventus trainingCredit: Getty – Contributor
De Ligt moved to Turin from Ajax in a huge £68million transfer last summer and at the time was one of Europe’s hottest prospects.
Ronaldo had a personal part to play in bringing the Dutch defender to the Allianz Stadium as he spoke to De Ligt after his Portugal side defeated Holland in the Nations League final in June.
But things have not worked out as well as the 20-year-old Dutchman would have hoped for as he has found himself on the bench for the last five matches with ex-Chelsea boss Sarri favouring Merih Demiral at centre-back.
Reports suggest Ronaldo and his team-mates have rallied around the talented De Ligt during sessions at the Juventus training centre Continassa, as he aims to force his way back into contention.
With De Ligt warming the bench for Juventus, Barcelona are reportedly ready to reignite their interest in the central defender after they failed with a late bid to convince him to join former Ajax team-mate Frenkie De Jong in moving to the Nou Camp last summer.
Super agent Mino Raiola, who has just signed Manchester United’s Jesse Lingard as his newest client, represents De Ligt and he suggested Juventus edged out Barcelona, United and Paris Saint-Germain due to the Old Lady’s record in producing quality defenders.
He said: “De Ligt strongly desired Juventus because he wanted to go to the best club for the defenders.
“In Turin he works with the best because he wants to become the best in the world.”
In his first press conference De Ligt reiterated his desire to come to Italy was due to the country’s rich defensive history.
He added: “I came here because Italy is one of the most traditional countries for defenders.
“Ajax was a younger environment and here I hope that I can learn from great champions like Chiellini, Gianlugi Buffon, Cristiano and many others.”
The former Ajax captain’s Bianconeri career got off to a calamitous start when he conceded a clanger of an own goal against Inter Milan in pre-season.
An injury to Chiellini gave De Ligt a chance to partner Leonardo Bonucci at the back but he lost his place after the side’s 3-1 defeat to Lazio at the beginning of December.
Manager Sarri said: “Playing 23 games after Chiellini’s injury, learning a new foreign language and adapting to the fast pace of Serie A is not easy for De Ligt.
“He is now resting and recovering from an injury.”
Barcelona may provide an escape route for De Ligt with even his place on the bench at Juventus under threat when Chiellini returns to fitness in February.
Matthijs de Ligt is struggling with a lack of playing time at Juventus with Portuguese superstar helping to raise his spiritsCredit: Getty – Contributor
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
