Why did Ronaldo leave Juventus? The reasons behind his exit from Italy

When Cristiano Ronaldo completed his move from Real Madrid to Juventus in 2018, it was widely viewed as a landmark deal for Italian football. The transfer, worth €100 million plus an additional €12 million in fees, sent shockwaves across the sport and underlined Juventus’ ambition on the European stage.

Over three seasons in Turin, Ronaldo delivered strong numbers, scoring 101 goals and providing 22 assists in 134 appearances. Domestically, he helped Juventus secure two Serie A titles in 2018-19 and 2019-20. However, the club’s primary objective - conquering the UEFA Champions League remained out of reach during his time in Italy.

Despite expectations that he might stay to complete that mission, Ronaldo chose a different path. In 2021, he confirmed his departure from Juventus, bringing an end to a high-profile chapter in Serie A. In this article, Soccer24.net answers the question: “Why did Ronaldo leave Juventus?”

Why did Ronaldo leave Juventus?

A number of factors combined to shape Cristiano Ronaldo’s decision to leave Juventus in 2021, and the picture goes beyond purely on-field matters.

First, there was the financial strain. Ronaldo’s net salary, reported at around €31 million per year, placed a significant burden on the club’s wage structure. At a time when the COVID-19 pandemic was impacting revenues across Europe, Juventus felt that pressure more than most, forcing the club to reassess its long-term sustainability.

At the same time, results on the pitch were moving in the wrong direction. Ronaldo had arrived as the final piece in Juventus’ Champions League ambitions, yet their European performances regressed during his spell. Domestically, the warning signs became clearer in the 2020-21 campaign, when Juventus surrendered the Serie A title after nine consecutive triumphs and only secured a top-four finish on the final day. From Ronaldo’s perspective, the project in Turin no longer appeared to be progressing.

The managerial situation also played a role. The return of Massimiliano Allegri marked a shift in direction. Allegri has traditionally favoured a structured, team-oriented system, and there was a growing sense that the side had become overly reliant on Ronaldo. That dependency, in turn, was seen as limiting the development of younger attacking players such as Paulo Dybala and Federico Chiesa.

Then came the decisive moment. As an opportunity emerged to return to Manchester United, the move gathered momentum quickly. A late intervention from Sir Alex Ferguson helped tip the balance, offering Ronaldo both a competitive option and an emotional pull back to Old Trafford. In the end, it provided a fitting route out of Italy and into the next chapter of his career.

Top 5 Ronaldo’s moments in Juventus

5. Securing the "Triple Crown" of Europe

When Cristiano Ronaldo helped Juventus seal the 2018–19 Serie A title with a 2-1 victory over ACF Fiorentina, he made history by becoming the first player to win league titles in England, Spain and Italy. In his debut campaign, he delivered 21 goals and 8 assists in 31 league appearances, underlining his immediate impact. For Juventus supporters, it was more than just another Scudetto. It confirmed the club’s standing on the global stage. Throughout that season, there was a sense of inevitability about Ronaldo, and his celebrations in Turin captured a moment few fans will forget.

4. Fastest to 100 Goals in Juventus history

On May 12, 2021, Cristiano Ronaldo reached a significant milestone during Serie A clash between Juventus and US Sassuolo. With the club battling to secure Champions League qualification under Andrea Pirlo, every moment carried weight. Just before the break, Ronaldo controlled a headed pass from Adrien Rabiot with a sharp first touch, eased past his marker and finished calmly with his left foot. The goal brought up his 100th for Juventus in only 131 appearances, making him the fastest player in the club’s history to reach that mark, surpassing the long-standing benchmark set by Omar Sivori.

3. Equalling the Serie A consecutive scoring record

Cristiano Ronaldo produced one of the most remarkable scoring streaks in Serie A history by finding the net in 11 consecutive appearances, matching a record previously set by Gabriel Batistuta and Fabio Quagliarella. Across that run, he struck 16 goals, underlining his relentless consistency. The defining moment came against SPAL, when he met a delivery from Juan Cuadrado with a perfectly timed run and an emphatic finish into the roof of the net. It was a goal that summed up a sustained spell of dominance.

2. "Air Ronaldo": The gravity-defying header vs. Sampdoria

On December 18, 2019, Juventus visited UC Sampdoria at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris with the title race finely balanced against Inter Milan. The score was level at 1-1 when, just before the break, Alex Sandro delivered a looping cross towards the far post. At 34 years and 316 days old, Cristiano Ronaldo produced a moment that defied age. He rose powerfully, elevating well above his marker, and met the ball with precision to head home. For a brief instant, the stadium fell silent as the scale of the leap and finish sank in, before the noise returned to greet an extraordinary goal.

1. The "Impossible" Remontada: Hat-trick vs. Atletico Madrid

March 12, 2019 remains the night Cristiano Ronaldo justified his €100 million move to Juventus. Trailing 2-0 from the first leg against Atletico Madrid, and with Diego Simeone already celebrating as if the tie were settled, Juventus needed something exceptional in Turin.

Massimiliano Allegri responded with an aggressive approach, stretching the pitch and relying on deliveries from Leonardo Spinazzola and João Cancelo. Ronaldo, in turn, exploited Atletico’s vulnerability in the air. His first goal came from a powerful header at the back post, setting the tone. Early in the second half, he struck again with another towering effort that even Jan Oblak could not keep out.

With the tie on the line late on, a penalty won by Federico Bernardeschi handed Ronaldo the decisive moment. He converted with authority to complete the hat-trick and seal a remarkable comeback. The atmosphere in Turin reflected the scale of the achievement, while Ronaldo’s celebration at full-time carried a clear message in response to the first leg.

Top 5 Ronaldo’s moments in Juventus

5. Securing the "Triple Crown" of Europe

4. Fastest to 100 Goals in Juventus history

3. Equalling the Serie A consecutive scoring record

2. "Air Ronaldo": The gravity-defying header vs. Sampdoria

1. The "Impossible" Remontada: Hat-trick vs. Atletico Madrid

Soccer24 has answered the question: “Why did Ronaldo leave Juventus?”, while also listing Top 5 Ronaldo’s moments in Juventus.

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