Giorgio Chiellini has aimed a thinly-veiled dig at Cristiano Ronaldo by claiming the team revolved around him at Juventus and that his presence held back Paulo Dybala.
The Portuguese superstar swapped Turin for Manchester this summer after just two years in Italy, rejoining United in an emotional deadline-day transfer.
Ronaldo marked his Old Trafford homecoming with two goals as United eased past Newcastle, beating them 3-1 on the weekend.
Juventus however have struggled to deal with the loss of Ronaldo, taking just one point from their opening three matches of the Serie A season after losing 2-1 against Napoli.
Despite their poor start, Chiellini insisted Juventus can cope without the 36-year-old and believes his exit will actually have some positive effects on the team.
The experienced defender told DAZN as quoted by Football Italia: 'When you have a world class player like Cristiano, you cannot help but use the team to play for him.
'We must be grateful to Cristiano for all he did during these years at Juventus, but we carry on.
'This will be Paulo Dybala's team. Over the last couple of years, he lowered his average goals because of Cristiano's presence, but he is a key player for this team and that is recognised by everyone.'
Max Allegri was without Dybala for Saturday's defeat by Napoli, with the forward having only played a few days before the match for Argentina in their World Cup qualifier.
There are real fears growing at Juventus that even Allegri cannot transform them into title contenders this season after their woeful start has seen them draw with Udinese and lose games against Napoli and Empoli.
Ronaldo had been their top scorer in both of his seasons in Turin and showcased his goalscoring prowess once again on the weekend by netting twice on his second Untied debut.
The Portugal star, who recently became the men's all-time record scorer on the international stage, believes United can win silverware this season after maintaining their unbeaten start and going top of the Premier League.
'As I told you before, we have huge potential,' he said after their victory over Newcastle.
'We have fantastic players, a good coach, a good team. We need to build up the mentality to win the Premier League and even the Champions League.
'So I am here to help the team. I think we have the 11 that are playing and those on the bench that can help as well. We have a good team, as I told you, and the spirit is there.'
⚽CR7FOREVER⚽
1091
1)Dybala was injured for most of the season, is that Ronaldo's fault? 2) Dybala even didn't performed for National side, is that Messi's fault. Players like Ozil, Di Maria, Kroos shined while playing with Ronaldo. It's simple that some players can't perform when someone Better than u r playing in same team and Dybala is one of them.
MohammedRaheem
795
Chelsea can't wait for poor juventus[Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
Desmondeyum
694
"Ronaldo will teach Messi how to play with Dybala"
Salim07
688
Wrong Information Admin Ronaldo stayed at Italy for 3y not 2y Man U beat New Castle by 4-1 not 3-1
AnkitDhakal
647
Just like Messi is helding back Dybala in Argentine team...
Nossy1990
583
We all know chiellini is not a CR7 fan but is clear that Juventus will suffer like Madrid to replace him
Mangisha
483
Most, especially CR7 fans, won't agree but that's the simple truth. CR7 hindered Dybala's progress. B4 CR7 came, it was indeed Dybala's Juventus. I can't 4get the 2 goals he scored against Barca in the 3-0 loss for Barca in Turin. This is the bad thing with stars. U have to make a team AROUND them, which means certain players get left out. People used to say the same abt Messi over certain players at Barca such as Coutinho, Griezmann...that he hindered them. He's gone now, does Griezmann now performs? He didn't. Coutinho? Will see. So we will see also how Dybala plays without CR7.
kumabcnryz
450
So you are telling us that when neymar and Suarez went to barca messi held back. this is nonsense
Chelsea_Fox☆addict
391
I can feel this man's pain 💔
Desmondeyum
371
I love how Dybala is carrying Juventus without Ronaldo, clearly shows he was holding them back, last three games have been great for them.
Brightberry
359
Haters say Ronaldo was the problem. You never know what you have until you let go.
footballillusion
280
Though being a Ronaldo fan.I respect and appreciate messi fan too. Not only this I also help them with some money .so that , They could get good treatment of their mental disorder 🙂
Melovechelsea
224
What about the 4 years before Ronaldo joined… Dybala is held back by Ronaldo at Juve and He is held back by messi in argentina maybe Dybala is just over rated?
zeceiuz
205
ya[Crylaugh] we are seeing his performance this season...only 1st half of 1st match then what happened?[Crylaugh]..Chiesa is carrying Juve..
Pizdeikpr
24
1)Dybala was injured for most of the season, is that Ronaldo's fault? 2) Dybala even didn't performed for National side, is that Messi's fault. Players like Ozil, Di Maria, Kroos shined while playing with Ronaldo. It's simple that some players can't perform when someone Better than u r playing in same team and Dybala is one of them.
POINT TO BE NOTED
Covid-21
18
bro dybala was only injured last season and dybala is a better freekick taker than ronaldo at present still he wasn't allowed to take freekicks such things can hurt thr confidence of players
who told you that? Dybala took the left foot free kicks and ronaldo took the right footed ones. watch matches then talk.
RichmondAdu
17
1)Dybala was injured for most of the season, is that Ronaldo's fault? 2) Dybala even didn't performed for National side, is that Messi's fault. Players like Ozil, Di Maria, Kroos shined while playing with Ronaldo. It's simple that some players can't perform when someone Better than u r playing in same team and Dybala is one of them.
Very true
ObasusiCaleb
14
bro dybala was only injured last season and dybala is a better freekick taker than ronaldo at present still he wasn't allowed to take freekicks such things can hurt thr confidence of players
did you say better freekick taker??? in your wildest dreams are you kidding me..... how many goals has he scored in his entire career from a freekick spot?? better quit what you are smoking...... that made you talk that abomination
liybciklsz
13
1)Dybala was injured for most of the season, is that Ronaldo's fault? 2) Dybala even didn't performed for National side, is that Messi's fault. Players like Ozil, Di Maria, Kroos shined while playing with Ronaldo. It's simple that some players can't perform when someone Better than u r playing in same team and Dybala is one of them.
More players to the list :wayne rooney ,Nani,carlos tevez,gareth bale,berbatov all this players were still on top of their game while playing with ronaldo Why all this useless excuses That old defender called chellini never liked ronaldo He was the only top player who didn’t wish ronaldo farewell Even dybala knows ronaldo was not his problem
Covid-21
12
dybala used to get very less freekicks or no freekicks in the matches I saw
Cristiano replaced pjanic in free kicks not Dybala. and only free kicks can't be an excuse of not being able to perform. and Dybala performed very well with Ronaldo when sarri was the coach. under Pirlo he was injured. it's only Allegri who can't play them together. blame the coach.
liybciklsz
9
How many goals were u expecting greenwood to score before the arrival of CR7? Let me also try to reason like u,the presence of LUKAKU in ur team will also diminish the influence of mount in ur team and it will make Werner close to useless(like he's not useless before about)
The level of hate and the baised people in football is so disgusting Why would a club have a striker and yet go and buy another striker? It either they need a sub for him or they want a better person because obviously the other striker is not living up to expectations. This ronaldo and dybala issue: Before ronaldo joined juve in 2018 Dybala was there since 2015 From 2015-2018(3 years)dybala had 52 goals and 21 assists Then they got ronaldo who came in 2018 and stayed for also 3years 2018-2021 and scored 101 goals and 22 assists Who do you think did more good for the club? So why will people just wake up and be talking nonsense?
pulkit_10
9
1)Dybala was injured for most of the season, is that Ronaldo's fault? 2) Dybala even didn't performed for National side, is that Messi's fault. Players like Ozil, Di Maria, Kroos shined while playing with Ronaldo. It's simple that some players can't perform when someone Better than u r playing in same team and Dybala is one of them.
bro dybala was only injured last season and dybala is a better freekick taker than ronaldo at present still he wasn't allowed to take freekicks such things can hurt thr confidence of players
Absolutegenius
8
Just like Messi is helding back Dybala in Argentine team...
Holding them back by winning the Copa America with them? Delusional 😂😂🤦♂️
Diego009
8
Most, especially CR7 fans, won't agree but that's the simple truth. CR7 hindered Dybala's progress. B4 CR7 came, it was indeed Dybala's Juventus. I can't 4get the 2 goals he scored against Barca in the 3-0 loss for Barca in Turin. This is the bad thing with stars. U have to make a team AROUND them, which means certain players get left out. People used to say the same abt Messi over certain players at Barca such as Coutinho, Griezmann...that he hindered them. He's gone now, does Griezmann now performs? He didn't. Coutinho? Will see. So we will see also how Dybala plays without CR7.
Yet he has more assist than iniesta xavi ozil kvb etc cry me a River ode shey na him cus his injury too ?
Yinaiknptz
8
bro dybala was only injured last season and dybala is a better freekick taker than ronaldo at present still he wasn't allowed to take freekicks such things can hurt thr confidence of players
Ronaldo has gone let Dybala take even throws now. people just analyse rubbish
RazaAhmad7
8
Most, especially CR7 fans, won't agree but that's the simple truth. CR7 hindered Dybala's progress. B4 CR7 came, it was indeed Dybala's Juventus. I can't 4get the 2 goals he scored against Barca in the 3-0 loss for Barca in Turin. This is the bad thing with stars. U have to make a team AROUND them, which means certain players get left out. People used to say the same abt Messi over certain players at Barca such as Coutinho, Griezmann...that he hindered them. He's gone now, does Griezmann now performs? He didn't. Coutinho? Will see. So we will see also how Dybala plays without CR7.
same with barca with messi.