Speculation is rife that Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo could seek to exit Juventus at the end of the season following another Champions League disappointment after defeat at the hands of FC Porto.
Juventus legend Toto Schillaci is convinced this will be Cristiano Ronaldo’s final season in Turin as speculation intensifies over his future.
36-year-old Ronaldo joined the club from Real Madrid in the summer of 2018, and, although having inspired the side to two Serie A titles, have not been able to take the Old Lady beyond the quarter-final stages of the Champions League.
And they were again given another slap in the face when they were disappointingly knocked out at the last-16 by Porto last week, with Ronaldo being the brunt of heavy criticism after he turned his back on the free-kick which won the tie for the Portuguese side.
Ronaldo’s current contract runs until the summer of 2022, but some are suggesting he could depart before then.
And speaking to Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport, Schillaci stated his belief that Ronaldo will not be seen many more times in a Juve shirt.
“This will be his last season in Turin,” he said. “I don’t know if the club will offer him a contract renewal but what is beyond doubt is that he won’t take long to find a new club.
“The criticism he received after the Champions League was over the top, we are talking about the best forward in the world. Anybody can have a bad game. Juventus perhaps underestimated the opposition.”
However, Schillaci added that Ronaldo “will continue to give his all for himself and for the club in order to show that the game against Porto was just a slip-up.”
It now remains to be seen where Ronaldo ends up if he does depart in the summer, with the most obvious possibility being a sensational return to Madrid, with the Los Blancos manager Zinedine Zidane doing little to suppress the rumours recently.
When asked about the chances of a move happening earlier this week, he replied:
“Yes, there may be. We know Cristiano, we know the person he is and everything he has done here.
“But now he’s a Juventus player and we must respect this. Now, let’s see what the future will be.
“I was lucky enough to coach him and he is very impressive. Right now, he’s helping Juventus.”