Cristiano Ronaldo had sparked talk of interest from Paris Saint-Germain before the Ligue 1 giants were presented with an opportunity to sign Lionel Messi, but Leonardo Bonucci a team-mate to the global superstar is adamant that the move of Messi from Barcelona to PSG did not influence events in Turin because he claims the Portuguese superstar was never trying to leave Juventus.
Speculation regarding the future plans of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner surfaced on the back of a testing 2020-21 campaign in Turin that left Juventus without a domestic title and reflecting on more Champions League misery.
The Portuguese approaching the final year of his contract, a move elsewhere seems possible for the legendary 36-year-old, but it is his football rival Messi that has delivered the biggest transfer shock of the summer by departing from Barcelona as a free agent to Paris club.
The Italy International, Bonucci claims that the decisions made by Messi has no impact in the future stay of his current club colleague has the Argentine icon is now expected to link up with PSG, ruling out any chance of Ronaldo treading that path.
The Juve defender said: “I think that Cristiano Ronaldo would have stayed even if Messi had not gone to PSG.
“For us, it’s an added value and I’m sure that this year, more than in past years, he will help us reach all of our goals.”
While the Bianconeri have been able to retain Ronaldo’s services, bringing fresh faces on board has proved tricky.
Brazilian teenager Kaio Jorge has completed is deal to be a Juve player, but he remains one for the future and talks elsewhere have not been as productive.
Barcelona midfielder Miralem Pjanic has also been listed because a return to Italy for such great player, if he comes back would certainly be an important player for the group and for the team, Euro 2020 winner Manuel Locatelli remains a top target, but is proving difficult to prise from Sassuolo.
Juventus suffered a 3-0 defeat to Barcelona in the Joan Gamper Trophy last time out and have a final friendly date with Atalanta to take in on Saturday before opening a new Serie A season away at Udinese on August 22.
Goal
