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17.07.2019 » How will Ronaldo's former clubs fare this season?
For those of us following the stellar career of Cristiano Ronaldo over the years, it's often hard to believe that so much time has flown by. From making his breakthrough with Sporting CP, then arriving at Manchester United aged 18 and declaring he wanted to become the best player in the world; few would argue that he's not achieved that goal. During his time at Real Madrid, Ronaldo helped lead the famed ‘"Galacticos" to a whole new level, shooting them to an interstellar level that won four Champions League titles and a host of domestic honours. Heading into his second season with Italian giants Juventus, the Portugues star is aiming to keep enjoying such glories with his current club. Having represented 4 prestigious teams over the years, let's take a look at their expectations for the 2019-20 season.
Cristiano Ronaldo - Career progression since 2002
Sporting CP
Luis Nani made a brief return to Sporting CP last season, but after scoring 7 goals in 18 matches, he departed for Orlando City in the MLS. Despite winning the Taça da Liga and Taça de Portugal, beyond domestic cup competitions, the Lions could only finish 3rd in Primeira Liga. After starting well in the group phase, Europa League proved frustrating with the team eliminated in the Round of 32 by Spanish side Villarreal.
This season the aim for Sporting will be to improve upon the positives of the previous campaign, especially in the Primeira Liga. The Green and Whites haven't landed the Portuguese title since 2001-02, when Mário Jardel scored 42 goals, the season before Cristiano Ronaldo made his breakthrough. Elsewhere, defending the cup titles will be important, along with pushing for a more successful Europa League campaign than last season.
Manchester United
When a club with the stature of Manchester United fails to even qualify for the UEFA Champions League, that's a clear sign that all is not well at such a historic giant of European football. Finishing 6th in the Premier League last season is way off the pace, which means that manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer faces a monumental challenge as he seeks to rebuild his stuttering side.
While the Red Devils aren't among the Betfair football tips to challenge for the Premier League title, other trophies could prove a source of success for. Insofar as domestic silverware is concerned, there's the League Cup and FA Cup to aim for, plus the Europa League could provide United with plenty of appetising continental action for fans to enjoy.
Real Madrid
After three consecutive UEFA Champions League triumphs, few can argue that Real Madrid seemed to implode, left in a state of shellshock when both Zinedine Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo departed in the summer of 2018. While the French coach has now returned, the club is still rebuilding and trying to fill the huge void that CR7 left behind.
After a couple of seasons focusing on signing talented young players, club president Florentino Pérez is splashing the cash in what looks set to be another "Galactico" era. The €100 million capture of Eden Hazard filled the Santiago Bernabéu stadium for his presentation, while Ferland Mendy, Éder Militão, Luca Jović and Rodrygo Goes have also bolstered the ranks. As always, the Champions League is top priority, followed by La Liga and the Copa del Rey.
Cristiano Ronaldo next game for Juventus is a pre-season friendly for the International Champions Cup on July 21 of 2019, against Tottenham Hotspur. You can watch Juventus vs Tottenham, Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid, Man City vs West Ham, Man United vs Leeds United, Arsenal vs Bayern Munchen, and Newcastle vs Wolves, all matches provided from our soccer streaming game pages.
Juventus next game:
Juventus vs Tottenham kick-off time (21-07-2019):
Beijing (China) | UTC/GMT+8: 19:30
Jakarta (Indonesia) | UTC/GMT+7: 18:30
India (New Delhi) | UTC/GMT+5.30: 17:00
Italy (Turin) | UTC/GMT+2: 13:30
Spain (Madrid) | UTC/GMT+2: 13:30
Portugal and England (Lisbon/London) | UTC/GMT+1: 12:30
Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) | UTC/GMT-3: 08:30
New York (United States) | UTC/GMT-4: 07:30
Los Angeles (United States) | UTC/GMT-7: 04:30
Sources: ronaldo7.net / uefa.com / laliga.es
