'Ronaldo could end his career at Juventus' - Mendes hints at star forward's retirement plans

Sean Wilson

'Ronaldo could end his career at Juventus' - Mendes hints at star forward's retirement plans image

Cristiano Ronaldo’s agent, Jorge Mendes, has suggested that the Portuguese superstar could end his career in Italy with current club Juventus.

The former Real Madrid forward's contract with the Bianconeri runs through until 2022, when he will turn 37.

And Mendes says that his star client is happy in Turin and has no desire to move on, meaning he could call time on his magnificent career in the Italian top flight.

The high-profile agent also made special mention of head coach Maurizio Sarri, hailing the former Chelsea and Napoli boss despite reports of a rift between manager and player after the Italian brought Ronaldo off twice in as many games against Lokomotiv Moscow in the Champions League and AC Milan in Serie A.

"At Juventus he is happy, there is a great coach,” Jorge Mendes told Sky Sports.

“Yes, he could end his career at Juventus – he has signed a contract.” 

Sarri has been reluctant at times to field all three of Ronaldo, Paulo Dybala and Gonzalo Higuain, often fielding one of the latter two alongside Ronaldo with Federico Bernardeschi behind them.

The Italian coach has seemed reluctant to field the three star names together, but Mendes insists that it is the manager’s decision and does not affect Ronaldo’s happiness at the club.

“The trident with Dybala and Higuain? Sarri [will decide on that]".

Mendes also referenced Ronaldo’s failure to win the Ballon d’Or for two years in succession, losing out to former team-mate Luka Modric and rival Lionel Messi respectively, the latter of whom claimed his sixth such gong - one more than the Juventus forward's tally of five.

The agent feels his client should have claimed the award in one, if not both, of the last two years, but says the "injustice" will only motivate the 34-year-old to work harder and win it next year.

"He deserved to win [the Ballon d’Or] at least once in the last two years. It was an injustice, Cristiano only thinks of working hard to triumph next season."

Sean Wilson