Ronaldo stunned the football world earlier this summer by choosing to quit Real Madrid for Juventus. The 33-year-old decided to call time on his Bernabeu career to embark on a new challenge in Serie A after nine glittering years in La Liga.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Juventus has not been well-received by Real Madrid fans, particularly given the club’s failure to land a replacement.
Lopetegui succeeded Zinedine Zidane in June and was powerless to prevent Ronaldo from jumping ship. Real Madrid have enjoyed a solid, if unspectacular, start to the new season.
Gareth Bale is now their talisman and, in the post-Ronaldo climate, the Wales international is back to his blockbuster best. And Lopetegui has now revealed why he was unable to convince the player to stay.
Lopetegui was confirmed as Real Madrid’s new boss on June 12 while Ronaldo officially completed his move to Juve a month later on July 10.
And the Spaniard’s latest comments suggest Ronaldo had already made up his mind prior to the World Cup that he would be leaving Los Blancos.
He said: “I did not speak with him.
“Because when I become Real Madrid coach, he had already chosen to leave.”
Ronaldo has struggled for Juventus so far, failing to score in his first three Serie A outings.
And Old Lady legend Alessandro Del Piero has given the veteran some advice.
“In Italy we defend looking for the numerical superiority and it is complicated for a striker,” Del Piero said.
“Cristiano must get to know his new championship.”
Del Piero also thinks Juventus are playing well despite Ronaldo’s failure to adjust.
“Juve can be very happy,” Del Piero added.
“They have won all the games without his goals or those of [Paulo] Dybala.”