Juventus

Cristiano Ronaldo is no stranger to the spotlight. In fact, he often seeks it out, what with his provocative underwear line, manicured appearance and supermodel girlfriends. 

But this past week the spotlight has been a bit brighter, a bit hotter, a bit more uncomfortable. 

In all the noise surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo’s transfer to Juventus, much was lost regarding the return of prodigal son Leonardo Bonucci. For many, AC Milan had gotten the better of a transfer that saw promising 24-year-old defender Mattia Caldara and Gonzalo Higuain land at the San Siro while the 31-year-old Bonucci — hot off his worst season as a professional — performed a sort of walk of shame back to Allianz Stadium.

We saw a Cristiano Ronaldo vs Napoli who looked like a younger version of himself on Saturday.

In a matchup of the top two teams in Serie A (both at the end of last season and early in the current campaign), Juventus edged Napoli 3-1 at Allianz Stadium in Turin. And much of what the Old Lady did well on Saturday came down to Ronaldo playing like a winger. 

Juventus fans and football lovers everywhere have been waiting with baited breath for a ruling on the red card Cristiano Ronaldo received in Juve’s opening Group H match against Valencia last week. But no one has been more anxious than the Portuguese star himself, who left the pitch in tears for, what many believed, was a rather harsh call by the referee.