3 ways Juventus can lineup with Cristiano Ronaldo next season 

Juventus have signed Cristiano Ronaldo for a club record fee of €105m from Real Madrid a couple of weeks back. In the interim, they have also resigned Leonardo Bonucci in a maddening swap deal which included their poster boy, Gonzalo Higuain joining AC Milan.

However, with the Portuguese legend joining the Italian club, they do not have to worry about bringing in a fox in the box. The world is well aware of Cristiano's goalscoring ability in the opposition's box.

Juventus have won the league title for the seventh consecutive time but have a long lost love story with the Champions League. The Old lady reached the semi-finals two times in the last four years but lost Barcelona in 2015 and Real Madrid in 2017. The fans in Turin are desperate to see the team winning the Champions League. With Mr.Champions League himself gracing the turf, it is all possible.

Massimiliano Allegri has now got a much star-studded squad having quality and depth all around the park. A lot of managers have used Ronaldo differently. During his early days in Portugal with Sporting CP, he used to be a traditional winger. Sir Alex Ferguson used him as a hybrid forward complementing Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez. Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti and Rafa Benitez used him as a winger occupying the central role. Zinedine Zidane used him as a centre-forward.

Ronaldo will be the leader of Juventus, the talismanic figure they have lacked since Alessandro Del Piero. Here is how Max Allegri can utilize the greatest goalscorer in recent times and can finally bring the Champions League home.

#3 4-3-3

This is a classic approach for a lot of the teams in the recent past. In Juventus, 4-3-3 can be used by Mr.Allegri in two alternations:

a) Ronaldo as a striker and Mandzukic/Douglas Costa playing on the left and,

b) Ronaldo patroling the left flank and Mandzukic

Potential Juventus setup next season in a 4-3-3

Cristiano will be more effective when going with the Option A as he is familiar with that style of play as the same tactics were used by Zinedine Zidane at Real. Paulo Dybala/Cuadrado will be providing width on the right meanwhile maintaining a free-flowing forward line.

The wingers will help attract centre-backs which will allow Ronaldo to get free space in the final third and get into a shooting position. He will pose more threat playing centrally being able to penetrate defences rather being isolated on the wing.

With Option B, due to Ronaldo's ageing legs, you would not see him possessing the good ol' trickery week in, week out. Mandzukic has never played as a full-fledged striker in bigger games which is a major disadvantage. Although, there will be no lack of creativity with Miralem Pjanic and Emre Can pulling the strings from behind.

#2 4-4-2

Juventus in two banks of four behind a two-man striking partnership.

Last season, we saw Barcelona using a similar formation with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez up-front. Messi was the second striker who would use to drop back into the midfield, carry the ball and create space for Suarez just like a false nine.

Dybala, very similar player to Messi can take up the false nine role and thrive in it. He is well known for playing anywhere around the forward line with special emphasis on no.10 marauding and drifting in or out whenever needed Ronaldo will be open to more options in this setup against teams who would like to sit back. The wingers would provide much width which will stretch opposition's defenses.

In the World Cup, the former Manchester United man played a similar role with Goncalo Guedes. which helped him to store his stamina for crucial counter attacks. Dybala's run and through balls would unlock opposition's deep blocks.

This formation has just one flaw: not giving Pjanic the specialized role. Having a regista in a two-man midfield is not practical and would leave the backline vulnerable. Pjanic is arguably one of the best at what he does. Wasting a talent like that would not be recommended.

#1 4-2-3-1

Juventus' forward line in a 4-2-3-1 formation

This is the formation Allegri has favored over the past couple of years with Juan Cuadrado and Douglas Cost/Mario Mandzukic on the wings, Paulo Dybala sitting behind Higuain.

As Higuain has left the club, it makes proper sense for Ronaldo to get into that position. He will be surrounded by wingers who have a very high work-rate and knows how to put decent crosses into the box whilst also contributing defensively. Dybala scored 26 goals and registered seven assists last term across all the competitions. The Argentina international's sensational performances during the past couple of seasons have already drawn comparisons to Lionel Messi. He can play as a traditional no.10 and will be able to drop deep or wide when needed. Dybala will help create chances, dribbling past opponents and providing one-twos.

Ronaldo can take the maximum leverage of Dybala's creative ilk. The thee behind him will be free-flowing and create chances for him to capitalize.

Blaise Matuidi/Emre Can/Sami Khedira can partner up with Miralem Pjanic in the midfield will provide a dynamic edge for protecting the backline and creating from the middle of the park.

This formation can also be tweaked a little bit with Mandzukic taking the no.9 role and Ronaldo shifting to the left; very similar setup at Santiago Bernabeu where the Croatia international can take Karim Benzema's role.

Among the all discussed over here, this formation is highly likely to be used as it fits both the manager and the players.

Long story short, it will not take too long for Juventus to leave a mark in European football and win the Champions League next season if Allegri plays all the passes correctly and smartly. It will also help the Old Lady to increase domestic dominance as a lot of Italian clubs are getting stronger.