Blaise Matuidi has a great sense of humour
Cristiano Ronaldo's move from Real Madrid to Juventus came as a shock to the footballing world. Most of all, it was a pleasant surprise for Juventus fans, who won't have expected to sign such a global superstar this summer.
The rest of Serie A, especially Napoli, will not be best pleased but it could attract more attention to the league, which will help increase its prestige and establish it as a genuinely excellent league.
Juventus players are obviously thrilled by the signing, excited to play next to one of the best players in the world (we're not having that debate right now).
Midfielder Blaise Matuidi was particularly pleased by the news, as he
revealed when speaking to
Gazzetta dello Sport.
"Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player on the planet, knowing that he will play with us is great,” Matuidi said.
The French midfielder, rarely one to blow his own trumpet, then pointed out that it's not just the squad who will be benefitting from the transfer, but Ronaldo too.
"Of course it is for him too, he gets to share the dressing room with a world champion," Matuidi said, referencing France's World Cup victory last Sunday. Ronaldo's Portugal were knocked out in the round of 16 to Uruguay.
"Two years ago he managed to beat me in the final in Paris, but it’s true that the World Cup is something more than the European Championship," Matuidi added.
On a tactical level, Ronaldo's arrival will be great news for Matuidi. Assuming the Portuguese plays in his favoured inside left position, and Matuidi plays on the left of a midfield three, the Frenchman's runs forward and Ronaldo's clever movement should combine effectively fown the left flank and devastate Serie A defences.
Matuidi will also relieve Ronaldo of any defensive duty with his incredible work rate.
