Cristiano Ronaldo faced another nightmare outing in the UEFA Champions League after a 3-3 draw allowed Porto to advance into the next round on away goals. With only one year left on his contract, Cristiano Ronaldo looks set to decide on his future.
The 36-year old signed in 2018, to win a title that has eluded Juventus since 1996. Since then, there have been repeated failures, and now the curtain is slowly closing on a possible title win.
Cristiano Ronaldo Future in Italy in Doubt
Ronaldo Enters Last Year of Contract
In 2018, the then 33-year old Cristiano Ronaldo was preparing himself for one final coup in Europe. The challenge was to complete the previously unconquerable feat of winning the Champions League title with his new club Juventus. The huge fee was criticized, but the Real Madrid legend went on a goal-scoring spree that helped him finish just shy of 30 goals in his first season. In the round of 16 ties against Atletico Madrid, the Portuguese star managed to overturn a two-goal deficit with a hat-trick in the return leg. Soon, the new challenge met a dead-end when the Bianconeri dropped out of Europe at the quarter-final stage against underdogs Ajax. Despite the failure, The club was still tipped to compete for the title the subsequent season.
Goals Galore Amid Disappointment
Juventus ended the 2019/20 season with a ninth consecutive Scudetto to their name, and the highlight of the season was Ronaldo. He managed an astonishing 37 goals in all competitions. The season ended in disappointment as the club once again failed in their quest for European glory.
A devastating defeat to Lyon further pointed to the underlying issues of the club. A poor sense of direction and recruitment meant that they had to start over. This season has been no different as Ronaldo has managed an impressive 27 goals in just 32 appearances. Despite his potent finishing, The 36-time Serie A winners suffered a setback against Porto in the Round of 16 in the Champions League.
Criticism Over Setback
The shocking upset left the media and the fans outraged. The former Manchester United player has been put on the hot seat due to his poor showing against the Portuguese giants. Despite the outrage, the player still carries a straight face and could be thinking about making the best of his final year in his contract with the Italian giants. On the flip side, there is a possibility that Ronaldo may be considering an exit.
Ronaldo To Leave Juventus?
The media outlets and the social media went frenzy due to another disappointment for the Old Lady. Although the media outlets exaggerate the outcome of most events, it is worth noting that the five-time Champions League winner merely has a year in his contract, and the club won’t have a better chance cash in on them than now. The possible clubs for the legend include a heroic return to either Real Madrid or Manchester United. A return to his former club Sporting Lisbon cannot be ruled out either. Despite the rumours, one would not be wrong to cast dispersions on the future of Cristiano Ronaldo as he is not one to shy away from the challenge.
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