Former Juventus manager Maurizio Sarri has opened up on his short spell at Serie A club, and he revealed that managing Cristiano Ronaldo is not an easy job.
The Italian manager worked with the Portuguese superstar for one year at the Italian club, and the two helped Juventus win the league title.
According to Sarri, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner comes with a lot of baggage and managing him is not the same as managing any other footballer.
The Italian manager claims that Ronaldo is a global brand. He needs to cultivate certain interests, and those have to coincide with football.
Sarri explained that these interests are not normal, and they go way beyond a team or a club.
That said, Ronaldo managed to deliver consistently on the pitch for Sarri. The Italian manager highlighted that the 36-year-old manages to bring the numbers at the end of the year.
According to Goal, the Italian manager said, “Managing Ronaldo is not simple, from all points of view. He’s a multinational company. He has personal interests that must coincide with football.
“His interests go beyond normalcy, beyond the team or club. I’m a coach, not a manager. Ronaldo, however, brings the numbers at the end of the year. But in recent years, I hear a lot about players and little about teams.”, he added.
The Portuguese international has been linked with a move away from Juventus this summer, and his long term future is yet to be sorted.
Sarri believes that Juventus might have to cash in on him if they want to reduce their wage bill. He also added that it is better to let go of one player instead of risking the future of five or six players.
Quizzed on the 36-year-old’s future, Sarri added: “It depends on the needs of the club. If they have to save on the salary, then they have to make a choice. In my opinion, it is better to give up one player than five or six with the same savings.”
Cristiano Ronaldo was brought in to help Juventus win the Champions League, but the Portuguese star has not been able to do so yet.
It remains to be seen whether he decides to continue at the Italian club next season and guide them to European glory.