The Portuguese forward will miss the crucial league game due to flexor problem
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In a big blow to Juventus, forward Cristiano Ronaldo has been ruled out of Sunday’s Serie A game against fellow Champions League rivals Atalanta due to a flexor muscle issue. Coach Andrea Pirlo said that Ronaldo will be rested to avoid risking a more serious injury. The 36-year-old Portuguese striker is the top scorer in Serie A this season with 25 goals. He will be a big miss for Juventus against a strong Atlanta side.
“We have an important absentee. Unfortunately Cristiano will not be taking part in the match due to a problem with his flexor,” Pirlo told a pre-match press conference. “Over these past few days he has not been able to recover from the problem sustained after last Sunday’s match against Genoa.”
The former Italian World Cup winner went on to explain why it is important to not risk Ronaldo’s amidst his injury concern “He hasn’t been able to push himself this week. It would be too risky for us to bring him to Bergamo tomorrow,” he added.
“We have decided to leave him in Turin to rest and we will try to have him back for Wednesday’s match against Parma.”
Defending Champions Juventus are currently lying in third place, with Inter Milan leading the points tally. Their Sunday opponents Atlanta are just a point shy of Juventus in the fourth place.
Pirlo believes fatigue is the reason behind Ronaldo’s current condition. “Cristiano has always been in excellent condition. Unfortunately, the three matches in the national team have led to an accumulation of fatigue which is a problem for everyone,” he said.
“Cristiano also told me that in the national team he should only have played two games, but then that goal not given against Serbia led him to play the third as well, otherwise he would have been back at Juve’s disposal before the third game. An accumulation of everything, travel and games, can lead to fatigue.
He also used the example of Bayern forward Robert Lewandowski picking up an injury during international break. “(Manchester City manager Pep) Guardiola also said it, there have been too many matches and the squads are too tight and these are the consequences,” Pirlo said.
“We also saw it in the Champions League, with (Bayern Munich’s Robert) Lewandowski who was unable to play the Champions League quarter-finals League due to an injury picked up in the national team.”
Argentina striker Paulo Dybala could be available for Juventus after a long knee injury layoff. He might partner Alvaro Morata up front.
