Cristiano Ronaldo: Florentino Perez reveals real reason Juventus star left Real Madrid

Posted Saturday, September 22, 2018 by Express.co.uk

Cristiano Ronaldo: Florentino Perez has been discussing the Portugal forward's departure (Image: GETTY)

CRISTIANO RONALDO left Real Madrid for Juventus this summer because nobody bid higher than Juventus, according to club president Florentino Perez.

Cristiano Ronaldo called time on his nine-year spell with Los Blancos as he seeked a new challenge away from the Spanish capital.

After winning his third successive Champions League in May, the Portuguese plunged his future into doubt with his comments immediately after the final.

A summer of speculation ensued with a host of top teams chasing his signature - most notably Juventus, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain.

Ronaldo eventually completed his move to Italy in a deal worth €112m (£99.2m) and it seems Madrid weren’t left with any other options but to do business with the Serie A champions with no other clubs lodging formal bids over €100m.

“The most expensive sale this year has been Cristiano’s,” Perez said.

“When we all believe that the best thing is this that has happened, we reach an agreement.

“At Madrid nobody gave more than 100million.

"He wanted to go by subjects people and the most that has gone has been for that amount, we have not had many more offers.”

Despite going his first three league games without a goal, Ronaldo has certainly made headlines since.

After bagging a brace in Juve’s 2-1 win over Sassuolo earlier this month, Ronaldo was at the centre of controversy on Wednesday after he was sent off in his Champions League debut for his new club.

Ronaldo was involved in an innocuous-looking clash in the area and was stunned when German referee Felix Brych dismissed him.

The forward appeared to knock Jeison Murillo to the ground off the ball and was shown a straight red card.

Ronaldo left the pitch in tears and as a result now misses his side’s next Champions League game against Young Boys.

However, Ronaldo is now looking at a two-game ban which rules him out of an emotional return to Old Trafford.

United host Juventus on October 23 but should UEFA extend Ronaldo’s ban to three games, he will also miss the reverse fixture two weeks later.

The Portugal striker has won five Champions League titles, four of which have come in the last five seasons.

His other European crown came during his time with Manchester United but Juventus splashed the cash this summer in the hopes that Ronaldo could deliver the goods for them.

Ronaldo played for United between 2003 and 2009 before moving to Real Madrid.