In one of the biggest and perhaps one of the most shocking transfers in history, Cristiano Ronaldo has made a €100 million move from European champions Real Madrid to Serie A champions Juventus.
The man from Madeira is among the greatest ever to play the game, but at 33 years of age, the transfer fee and wage package are substantial even for a player of Cristiano’s undoubted quality.
The question now is, can Ronaldo achieve legendary status at a third giant of European football, and more immediately, how will he fit into the starting XI of the current seven-in-a-row Italian champions?
We take a close look at how Massimiliano Allegri may work the Portuguese legend into his side and how CR7 (as he is commercially known) can improve the Turin team.
What Sort Of Player Are Juventus Buying?
Zinedine Zidane should take a lot of credit for getting the best out of his Real Madrid side over 3 years, but also for getting the very best out of a changing Cristiano Ronaldo.
At 33, CR7 is no longer the tireless runner he once was, preferring to conserve energy where possible so he can remain as effective as ever in the final third for his team.
Zidane excellently managed Ronaldo’s playing time in the last couple of years to the extent that, although he has slightly less time on the pitch, his goal-scoring averages have not dropped.
This, however, required a shift in position for Ronaldo from a goal-scoring left winger to a number 9, spearheading the attack.
Ronaldo had resisted a move further forward in position previously, as he felt coming in from the left gave him a bit more space, as he wouldn’t be so tightly marked when out wide.
Until the 2016/17 season, Ronaldo primarily played on the left wing of a 4-3-3 formation, as shown above.
From there, he could find more space to receive the ball before using his pace and dribbling ability to cut inside onto his right foot.
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