Despite a brilliant career, not yet over at 40 years old in the jerseys of Portugal and Al-Nassr (Saudi Arabia), Cristiano Ronaldo has not always been unanimously appreciated. During his time at Juventus (2018-2021), the Portuguese's characteristics did not satisfy the Turin coach, Andrea Pirlo, during the 2020-2021 season.
“One thing was certain: Pirlo did not like Dybala And Cristiano Ronaldo didn't fit his style of play at all », indicated Alparslan Erdem, coach of Rabotnicki Skopje (North Macedonia), in a podcast for the German media
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Alparslan Erdem received the confidences of Andrea Pirlo, whom he worked with as an assistant when the 2006 world champion was on the bench at Karagumruk, in Türkiye (2022-2023).
Ronaldo protected by his status
Pirlo wanted a striker who could exert strong pressure on opposing defenses. The tests carried out had shown, explains the Turkish technician,
that “Cristiano Ronaldo was the worst in sprinting. Pirlo didn't want it, but there was nothing he could do. It was Cristiano Ronaldo. »
Andrea Pirlo preferred the Spaniard Alvaro Morata in this register, continues Alparslan Erdem, more suited to the 4-4-2 applied at the time by the coach of the Old Lady. The status of CR7 could not allow Pirlo to place him on the bench. This is what also seems to be happening today in the Portuguese selection.
