<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/andrea-pirlo/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Andrea Pirlo</a>, a Juventus legend as a player, transitioned to coaching and seized the chance to lead the team following Maurizio Sarri’s departure. While he did not capture the elusive UEFA Champions League, he successfully guided the team to the 2020-21 Italian Cup and the 2020-21 Italian Super Cup victory. Despite these achievements, his former assistant recently made a shocking revelation about his management involving <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/cristiano-ronaldo/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cristiano Ronaldo</a> and Paulo Dybala.



“Pirlo didn’t like <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/paulo-dybala/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dybala</a>, and Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t fit in with his style of play at all. He wanted to press high up the pitch, and the data showed that Cristiano Ronaldo was the worst at sprinting. He didn’t want him, but there was nothing he could do. It was simply Cristiano Ronaldo… He preferred Alvaro Morata, who fit perfectly into his approach. His system didn’t work with Ronaldo, but he couldn’t change it,” Alparslan Erdem said, via BILD.



Upon his arrival at <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/juventus/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Juventus</a>, Andrea Pirlo implemented a tactical system that positioned Cristiano Ronaldo as the starting center forward, with Dejan Kulusevski excelling as the second striker. Although Pirlo initially preferred a forward known for aggressive pressing, Ronaldo defied expectations by netting 36 goals in 44 matches during the 2020-21 campaign, establishing him as the key figure in the Italian squad.



In stark contrast, Paulo Dybala faced a challenging season as he found himself relegated to the bench despite previous successes with the team. Throughout the 2020-21 season, the Argentine star managed just 26 appearances, contributing 5 goals and 4 assists. This reduced role ultimately led to the Juventus management’s decision not to renew his contract. Consequently, Dybala departed as a free agent in 2022, signing with AS Roma.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20251020_WST_598226_Cristiano-Ronaldo-3-1200x675_58f773be.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="Cristiano Ronaldo celebrating a trophy with Juventus" class="wp-image-598228" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure><figcaption>Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus celebrates with the TIMVISION cup.</figcaption></figure>



<h2>Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus stint marked by criticism despite elite performances</h2>



After joining Juventus in 2018, Cristiano Ronaldo revitalized his career by securing two Serie A titles (2018-19, 2019-20), a Coppa Italia (2020-21), and two Italian Super Cups (2018, 2020). With 101 goals in 134 appearances, he established himself as a pivotal figure for the Italian side. Despite this success, prominent figures, including former Juventus president Giovanni Cobolli, criticized Ronaldo’s tenure.


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“Signing Cristiano Ronaldo was a huge mistake. I said so from day one. He’s a great player, a champion, but too expensive. Now everything is in the hands of Juventus, who pay him a million euros for every goal… I can’t blame Pirlo. Andrea Agnelli [2021 team’s president] took a lot of risks and no longer wanted Maurizio Sarri. He accepted because it was Paratici and Nedved’s choice,” Giovanni Cobolli said in 2021, as reported by ESPN.



Cristiano Ronaldo joined Juventus aiming to clinch the Champions League title, yet the team did not advance beyond the quarterfinals since his arrival. This is not a failure on Ronaldo’s part; rather, it highlights the front office’s inability to construct a formidable squad, exacerbated by coaching instability. Ronaldo delivered on his promise by consistently scoring goals, but Juventus fell short in building a truly competitive project team around him.

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Former Pirlo staff member reveals untold story about the Italian coach with Ronaldo and Dybala at Juventus - World Soccer Talk

destacadas

<figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-78204" src="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/luiz-felipe-scolari.jpg" alt="luiz-felipe-scolari" width="500" height="333" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2013/07/luiz-felipe-scolari.jpg 500w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2013/07/luiz-felipe-scolari-150x99.jpg 150w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2013/07/luiz-felipe-scolari-300x199.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px"></figure>
Portugal manager Luiz Felipe Scolari stirred the footballing pot when Chelsea <a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2008/06/12/phil-scolari-named-as-new-chelsea-manager-89520-20604114/">announced an agreement</a> with him to become their next manager, at the termination of his Portugal contract after Euro 2008. Throwing even more chum into the water, are the ever truthful transfer magicians, who now have just about everyone available linked to Chelsea.Big Phil supposedly will start his reign with an audacious £60m bid for AC Milan star Kaka, which may or may not include Didier Drogba and/or Shevchenko as bait. He may also <a href="http://www.newspostleader.co.uk/newcastleunited/Transfer-rumours-and-football-gossip.4163179.jp">set his sights on Andrea Pirlo</a>, with a £7m per season contract.Additionally, he may look <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/7453834.stm">to bring in Portugal and Barcelona midfielder Deco</a>, who is free to discuss terms with other teams. Barcelona will also shed longtime Chelsea target Ronaldinho, who played for Scolari when he coached Brazil. But, they may <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&amp;grid=&amp;xml=/sport/2008/06/13/ufndeco113.xml">include Samuel Eto’o with Deco in a £43m deal</a>.Scolari may convince Frank Lampard to stay with <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&amp;grid=A1YourView&amp;xml=/sport/2008/06/14/sfnfro114.xml">a lucrative new contract</a>, or, alternatively, be the factor that forces him to go to Inter Milan.Cristiano Ronaldo’s flirtations with Real Madrid <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&amp;grid=A1YourView&amp;xml=/sport/2008/06/13/ufnphil113.xml">may be the work of Scolari</a>, who wants the player to move away from potential rival Manchester United. However, Big Phil may fancy the lad himself and jump into the bidding with Real Madrid.Big Phil may nab <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/jun/12/chelsea.acmilan">Robinho and David Villa</a> as well just for the hell of it.Tyler Duffy has been a contributing blogger to EPL Talk since 2006.&nbsp; His work can also be viewed as a weekly soccer commentator for <a href="http://thebiglead.com/">TheBigLead</a> and on his blog at <a href="http://theoddsandsods.com/">Odds and Sods</a>.

Phil Scolari Set to Sign…Everyone

Phil Scolari Set to Sign...Everyone - World Soccer Talk

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Former Pirlo staff member reveals untold story about the Italian coach with Ronaldo and Dybala at Juventus

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Phil Scolari Set to Sign…Everyone