Massimiliano Allegri worked with Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus but has snubbed the latter by going on record to state that his arch-rival is the most technically-accomplished, and the best player player, on the planet in the world after his Ballon d’Or win.
The multi-decorated Paris Saint-Germain star won the world’s best player award for a record seventh time on Monday, as CR7 opted not to be present at the presentations ceremony after having learned in advance that the award would be out of his reach this time around.
Allegri worked with Ronaldo at Juventus in the 2018-19 season as they won the Serie A together with the pair having re-uinited in the summer when the Tuscan tactician returned to Turin, but the five-time Ballon d’Or winner soon left for Manchester United.
CR7’s epic battles with Messi have defined an entire era of football and numerous pundits, managers, former and current players alike have weighed in over the years on the debate raging between who’s the better among the two. And now, despite having worked personally with the Portuguese, Allegri has seen it fit to name his rival Messi definitively as the world’s numero uno.
Asked about the award in his press conference following the win over Salernitana the Juventus boss replied: “In the Ballon d’Or they voted for Messi, let’s say on a technical level Messi is the best in the world.
“After that I don’t know how they judge the Ballon d’Or.”
This is also not the first time the Italian manager has shown a non-deferential attitude toward CR7 as the Portuguese had actually started on the bench for the first Serie A game of the season and, following his move to Manchester United, the 54-year-old seemed bereft of emotions and sentiments regarding his departure. Which was perfectly understandable as, in hindsight months after his departure, senior players in the squad had actually expressed their sentiments that the Portuguese striker should have left much earlier as they felt his presence had actually done great injustice to the rest of the players.
Allegri himself had said at the time: “I’m absolutely not disappointed, because Cristiano made his choice and these things happen in life.
“Sivori, Platini, Del Piero, Zidane, Buffon – great champions – have passed through Juventus as well as many coaches. That’s how life goes.
“Juventus remains, which is the most important thing.
“In these three years he gave his contribution to Juventus and now life goes on.”