TURIN, Italy (AP) – While Lionel Messi’s long career remains a major player in world football, his lifelong rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, has expressed his overall determination to Juventus by entering the third season of a four-year contract with the Italian club.
“As I prepare for my third season as a bianconero, my brain and ambition are better than ever,” Ronaldo wrote on Instagram on Thursday. “Goals. Victories. Commitment. Dedication. Professionalism. With all my (strength) and with the valuable help of my teammates and all of Juventus, we are running to conquer Italy, Europe and the world!”
While 35-year-old Ronaldo helped Juventus win Serie A in each of their two seasons in Turin, he has not led the team towards its stated goal of winning the Champions League.
The bianconeri were eliminated via Lyon in 16 this year after losing to Ajax in the quarter-finals in Ronaldo’s first season in Turin.
“Breaking records. Overcoming obstacles. Win titles and achieve non-public goals. Do more and better. To succeed at the top and succeed in all the demanding situations that may arise,” wrote Ronaldo, who scored 37 goals in 46 games in all Juventus competitions last season.
Serie A is scheduled to begin on September 19.
“Make every year a bigger adventure than the last one and win everything for our enthusiasts and enthusiasts,” Ronaldo added. “To be the bearers of this and exclusive hobthrough that is Juventus, and to live up to its history, elevating our name, our values and our judgment as high as possible”.
Messi stated in Barcelona this week that he was looking to leave the club, there have been hypotheses in Italy that Argentina’s departure from the competition could revive his rivalry with Ronaldo by joining Inter Milan. However, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain are widely regarded as Messi’s ultimate likely destination.
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