Cristiano Ronaldo explains decision to join Juventus | OneFootball

Cristiano Ronaldo has spoken for the first time since joining Juventus in a €100m transfer from Real Madrid last week.

The 33-year-old was officially unveiled in a press conference at the club’s Turin headquarters on Tuesday at which he explained the thinking behind his decision to move to Serie A.

“Juventus, in my opinion, is one of the best clubs in the world,” he said.

“It was a well thought-through decision and my friends and colleagues told me some time ago it was a club they thought I could play in Italy.

“The power and size of the club made the decision easy. It’s the best club in Italy.

“I prefer to think of myself in the present tense, the present is very clear: I enjoy football, I’m still rather young and I’ve always enjoyed challenges in my life.

“It was a dream (my career) and I couldn’t imagine that when I started, winning so many titles individually and as part of clubs. Challenges are a part of my life and this one will be as good as the others.

“I’m here because it’s a brand new challenge for my career. It’s a big club and players of my age usually go to China or Qatar. Coming to such an important club at this point of my career makes me very happy, so I can go on with my career.”

Ronaldo spent nine years at Madrid, during which he won the Champions League four times and became the club’s all-time record goalscorer.

“As I said before, the nine years in Madrid were wonderful but this is a new step in my life. I thank all the fans but I’m very focussed on this new step,” he said.

“I will work hard in training and I don’t think I have to show more than that – you know my stats. I’m very ambitious and I enjoy new challenges, I don’t like to stay in my comfort zone. After Manchester and Madrid, I want to mark the history of Juventus.

“I do like challenges. I know it’s a very tactical league and I like to have new experiences. I know it will be difficult but I don’t want to sit back and look at my successes, I want to work hard and succeed again. I’m sure everything will work out because I will train hard, that’s why I’m calm and sure of myself.

“I do know the Champions League title is a trophy every club would like to win. As I discussed with the president, we will fight for the Champions League and for the Serie A title. It’s a harsh competition but we must be calm and concentrated, it’s not easy to win the Champions League. I hope I can help Juventus go the extra step.”

The Portuguese received a heroes welcome from the Bianconeri supporters when he arrived at the training ground earlier on Monday.

“It was a stunning moment for me,” he said.

“To be welcomed like that is so rewarding and it only increases your motivation to start a new adventure in a new club. I’m grateful to all supporters for the way they welcomed me and I hope I can reward them when I play for the club.

“I hadn’t decided to move to Juventus (after the CL final) but I give thanks to the president and the management at the club for thinking of me.

“I’m very well physically, mentally, emotionally. I’m proud to be here and of how I’ve reached this point. That gives me motivation. I’m different from every player who thinks their career is over at my age so it’s a very emotional moment for me and the club because I’m not 23, I’m 33.”

There had been talk that Ronaldo was offered to a number of clubs this summer, with Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis claiming over the weekend that the Partonopei also had the chance to sign the forward.

Ronaldo denies that, however.

“It was (the only offer I received this summer)!” he said.

“I will start training on 30th July. I’d like to play my first match at the start of the Serie A season.

“I want to have new successes with Juventus, I’m not here on holiday! I’m here to mark the club’s history and I want to surprise everybody one more time.”

Ronaldo has so far won the Ballon d’Or five times in his career and hasn’t ruled out winning another one before he eventually hangs up his boots.

“Winning another Ballon d’Or is not what I’ve thought about but I want to be the best, maybe I will be awarded again if things go well,” he said.

“It was difficult to win it before, we’ll see.

“Juventus gave me a wonderful opportunity and I’m so grateful. They’ve placed a value on me and my footballing ability so I see it as a step forward. Juventus is a club with huge success and I’m so proud to be here, proud they were interested in me, and I hope I can repay them on the pitch and take the club to an even higher level.

“As I’ve said before, it’s a continuous challenge. I want to be an example not just as a player but as a man. I want to work hard and help youth players, I’m not changing. I see this as a shining moment in my career with a four-year contract, I’ll be focused and I want to work with the club to win more trophies.”

Ronaldo played under new Napoli boss Carlo Ancelotti during his time at Madrid and says he’s looking forward to locking horns with his old boss again next season.

“We (Carlo Ancelotti) haven’t talked yet but I liked working with him,” he said.

“Next time we’ll meet we’ll be opponents! But he was a big part of my life, he was very supportive, so I’ll be excited to see him.”

And finally, he had his say on his long-held rivalry with Lionel Messi.

“I don’t see players as rivals, that’s not how I live,” he said.

“Of course we want to win. We’re going to try to win every game, that’s our big challenge. To be the best. That’s a very interesting challenge, I think.

“Everybody speaks about my rivalry with Messi but of course we play to win, we fight for our club and in the end we see who’s the best.”