Cristiano Ronaldo starts Juve debut

Cristiano Ronaldo is in the starting XI for his Juventus debut in today’s traditional pre-season friendly at Villar Perosa.

This tiny town near Turin has hosted the Juventus A v Juventus B match since the 1950s, as it is close to the Agnelli family residence.

Every year there are thousands who flock to attend the game, but this time the CR7 effect has seen queues form since the early hours of the morning.

Only 5,000 tickets are available, but around 15,000 are believed to be in the area to see the main team take on the youth squad.

As Ronaldo arrived for training after the North American tour, this will be his first appearance in a friendly for the Bianconeri.

The five-times Ballon d’Or winner was signed from Real Madrid for over €100m plus bonuses.

Less than a week before the Serie A opener against Chievo, Max Allegri uses a 4-3-3 formation with Ronaldo in a centre-forward role flanked by Paulo Dybala and Douglas Costa.

New signing Emre Can also starts in midfield, with Leonardo Bonucci returning at centre-back after his brief spell at Milan.

Allegri really isn’t holding back, as he also starts Juan Cuadrado and Federico Bernardeschi in deeper roles.

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It kicks off at 16.00 UK time (15.00 GMT).

Juventus: Szczesny; Cuadrado, Bonucci, Chiellini, Alex Sandro; Bernardeschi, Bentancur, Can; Douglas Costa, Cristiano Ronaldo, Dybala