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The legacy of Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the greatest players to have played the game, is secure.
The Portuguese superstar has played for top clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus, performing at the highest level for club and country and winning trophies at a consistent rate.
However, Cristiano Ronaldo is now 36, and there have been suggestions that he could leave Juventus in the summer. Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain have been linked with him, as it has been reported that Juventus could be ready to sell the player.
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On that note, let's take a look at five reasons why Cristiano Ronaldo should leave Juventus this summer:
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo's departure could help Juventus rebuild
Juventus are in a transitional phase at the moment and have made a heavy investment in Cristiano Ronaldo.
While there is no denying that Cristiano Ronaldo has been their best player since his arrival, his departure could potentially offer Juventus more financial maneuverability in the market.
Ronaldo reportedly earns €30 million a year at Juventus and cost the club €100 million in transfer fees when they signed him from Real Madrid.
Cristiano Ronaldo's potential departure in the summer could see Juventus invest in freshening up their squad. The 36-year-old will not be short of suitors, even at a time when clubs are wary of spending big.
#2 Juventus have an imbalanced squad
As mentioned before, there is a need for Juventus to address their squad situation in the summer.
Cristiano Ronaldo is their star player, but the 36-year old cannot go on forever. Renowned for their shrewdness in the market, Juventus' squad building in recent seasons has not been up to the mark.
The overreliance on Ronaldo to consistently produce the goods is not a sound strategy. Last summer, Juventus signed Arthur, Dejan Kulusevski, Alvaro Morata, Federico Chiesa and Weston McKennie. Out of those players, it can be argued that only McKennie and Chiesa have done well.
The likes of Kulusevski, McKennie, Chiesa, Rodrigo Bentancur and Matthijs de Ligt are young and should improve with time.
Nevertheless, there are gaping holes in the squad that need to be addressed. That could be done by selling Cristiano Ronaldo.
Also Read: Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi name the toughest defenders they have faced
#3 Doubts over the manager
The appointment of the inexperienced Andrea Pirlo last summer raised eyebrows, and nearly a season later doubts remain.
Pirlo replaced Maurizio Sarri at the helm of Juventus. The legendary midfielder had been appointed as manager of Juventus U23 squad in July 2020, but a few days later was announced as the manager of the senior side.
The Italian has not enjoyed a smooth first season. Juventus are unlikely to win the Serie A, having won the league title nine consecutive times, and were knocked out of the Champions League in embarrassing fashion by Porto in the Round of 16.
While it has been confirmed that Pirlo will remain as the manager, questions still remain as to how good a manager he really is.
#4 Domestic struggles could prevent Cristiano Ronaldo from challenging for the Ballon d'Or
Juventus won the Serie A nine consecutive times, but this season they will need a miracle to lift the league title.
Cristiano Ronaldo's side are 3rd in Serie A, 11 points behind league leaders Inter Milan with six games to go. While Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 25 league goals and is the top goalscorer in the league, Juventus have been an inconsistent team and have struggled to get going.
It is clear that Juventus need to freshen up, despite Cristiano Ronaldo's top form. Inter Milan have been in fine form under the management of former Juventus manager Antonio Conte, while 2nd-placed AC Milan have shown signs of improvement as well.
Nothing is guaranteed, in football and in life, but a move to Paris Saint-Germain, a club Cristiano Ronaldo has been linked with recently, could see the Parisiens dominate Ligue 1. PSG have not been at their very best in the league this season and the move there could be ideal for everyone involved.
For Cristiano Ronaldo to challenge for the Ballon d'Or again, trophies are crucial and he will be guaranteed to win a lot of domestic trophies at PSG.
#5 Juventus are not the favourites to win Champions League
When Cristiano Ronaldo was signed from Real Madrid in 2018, it was Champions League success Juventus had in mind.
Since Cristiano Ronaldo's arrival, Juventus have been knocked out of the Champions League by Ajax, Lyon and Porto. This does not bode well. The results have not been smash and grab; their opponents have been the better side on these occasions.
There are many reasons for this, but at 36 Cristiano Ronaldo will be keen to lift the Champions League once more. It seems unlikely, given the situation Juventus are in, that Cristiano Ronaldo will be able to do it with the Old Lady.
Also Read: Manuel Neuer chooses between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo
