Mired in Financial Scandal, Italian Giants Juventus’ Woes Started Due to Cristiano Ronaldo’s $127 Million Transfer, Claims Rival President

Italian giant Juventus signed Cristiano Ronaldo in 2018 for a reported $127 million. He spent three seasons with the club before leaving for Manchester United. Meanwhile, a massive controversy hit Italian soccer last year. It was the first enormous controversy after Calcipoli in 2006. Serie A giant Juventus was at the center of the controversy on both occasions. 

Last year complete Juventus board resigned amid an investigation over false accounts and financial irregularities. The deferred payments, including that of Ronaldo, are at the center of the investigation. Many believe the signing of Ronaldo derailed the club, with the former club president slamming the board for the decision. Recently, after Juventus’ loss in the domestic cup semifinal, the rival president also opened up on Juventus signing Cristiano Ronaldo.

The rival president thinks the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo was the problem

Inter recently knocked out Juventus from the Coppa Italia semifinals on 2-1 aggregate. In another semifinal, Serie A side Fiorentina beat Cremonese by 2-0 on aggregate. After the victory, Fiorentina’s president spoke about the Juventes’ current woes off the field. He also thinks Cristiano Ronaldo’s signing made the Bianconeri financially vulnerable. 

Fiorentina president, Rocco Commisso, was happy to see his side prevail and storm into the final. Speaking of their financial problems, Commisso said, “I don’t do anything I just bring money from America to run the project. Joking aside, the revenue situation is a problem for us. We cannot go and get certain players and then go the way of Juventus, which still had 400 million in revenues.” 

“If you look at the problems that poor Juve has, they started when they took Cristiano Ronaldo, and from there, they got to where they are today. This will never happen to Fiorentina, who went bankrupt 20 years ago but will never fail. I don’t know where we will arrive, each of us has his dreams, and I have mine, and then we will see where we arrive,” Commisso added.

A season of ups and downs for Juventus

It was a mixed start for Juventus to the 2022-23 season. After starting the Serie A campaign on a winning note, they drew some games. During a World Cup break, the investigating bodies found some evidence of financial and accounting irregularities, prompting the resignation of the entire board. Bianconeri got a 15-point penalty.

READ MORE: $500 Million Worth Cristiano Ronaldo Could Be the Reason Why Juventus Would Be Relegated Amidst UEFA Investigation

However, after a successful appeal, the point deduction penalty got canceled. It resulted in the Bianconeri taking the third place in the league table. Meanwhile, UEFA is yet to sanction the club for the separate investigation they are carrying out. Despite being in a European spot, the fate of the club hangs in the air until the decision of UEFA is known. Whether Juventus plays in Europe next season remains to be seen. It has been a season of full up and downs for the Bianconeri.

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