Cristiano Ronaldo's Tenure At Juventus Has Seen Success and Struggle
SBI Soccer
3 Yrs Ago
Cristiano Ronaldo’s two seasons at Juventus have seen the Portuguese star score plenty of goals, and continue to defy time as he dominates defenses at the age of 35, showing few signs of slowing down.
As much as Ronaldo has continued to score goals and wow fans, one thing he has yet to do is stamp his move to Juventus as an undeniable success. Of course, 42 Serie A goals in two seasons is a figure almost any player would give anything or, Ronaldo arrived in Turin with loftier goals and greater expectations.
Chief among them was the expectation that Ronaldo could end Juventus’ drought in the UEFA Champions League.
Fresh off three consecutive Champions League triumphs with Real Madrid, Ronaldo joined the Italian giants in hopes of helping them do what they haven’t achieved since 1996 and lift Europe’s elusive trophy for the first time in 23 years. 
The Portuguese superstar’s exploits did not prove enough as Juve bowed out of Europe’s elite competition meekly to Ajax in the quarterfinals. Juventus still went on to lift its eighth consecutive Scudetto, but ultimately the season left a lot to be desired. After all, the former Real Madrid man wasn’t brought in to help them maintain their domestic dominance.
Ronaldo put in his lowest-scoring season in over fifteen years, netting 21 goals in 30 Serie A appearances. Beyond his second-leg heroics against Atletico Madrid, Juventus fans never saw the real Ronaldo. That was, until this season. 
The 35-year-old began the current season in poor form, scoring a mere four goals in 10 appearances. For the first time since joining Juve, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner was subbed off in consecutive games against Lokomotiv Moscow and Milan. Reports later emerged that Ronaldo was nursing an injury to his hamstring. 
Just as many began to doubt Ronaldo, the Portuguese international turned it up. His return from December’s international break proved to be a turning point in his Juventus tenure. After scoring his fifth goal of the season against Sassuolo, the 35-year-old went on a tear scoring goals in 11 consecutive league encounters, equalling Gabriel Batistuta’s record in the process. 
The former Real Madrid man is currently on 21 goals on the season, tying last year’s tally in nine fewer appearances. Beyond his goal-scoring exploits, the spring in Ronaldo’s step appears to have finally returned. Factor in his blossoming partnership with Paulo Dybala and the Juventus front line is looking as dangerous as ever. 
Juventus is currently down a goal going into the second leg of its Champions League Round of 16 clash against Lyon, but Ronaldo is a man on a mission. With last season’s failures on his mind, the Portuguese superstar will be eager to turn things around against the French outfit. 
Juventus in a similar situation returning home with a two-goal deficit last season against Atletico Madrid, but Ronaldo led by example, netting a hat-trick in front of a packed Allianz Stadium. When action resumes, the 35-year-old will be expected to deliver heroics once again, as he and Juventus still have the possibility of completing what would be a truly impressive treble.
Those worried that Ronaldo’s time at Juventus may wind up disappointing should take note of how his time at Real Madrid began. Ronaldo’s stint in Spain will ultimately be remembered for his European triumphs, but it’s easy to forget that it took Ronaldo four attempts in Madrid before finally being crowned European champions, including one Round of 16 exit.
Time may not be on his side as it was the case in 2009, but if Ronaldo’s career has shown anything, it’s that you simply cannot count him out.
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