Cristano Ronaldo, who earns a whopping annual salary of €207 million (US$224m) in the Saudi Pro League, had a recent rift with head coach Stefano Pioli.
There has been tension between the 40-year-old Portuguese ace and former Juventus defender Pioli since a controversial substitution on 14 March.
Unless the professional relationship can be repaired, then Piolo is likely to get the boot with both AS Roma and Juventus monitoring his situation.
Real Madrid or Juventus?
With Ronaldo’s current contract expiring this summer, the attacking icon who sported the Juventus jersey for three seasons, may consider making a short-term return to the Turin titans although Spanish giants Real Madrid could be his preferred option.
With the Club World Cup finals being expanded to 32 teams, the ever ambitious Ronaldo would like to tackle the highly-lucrative competition and win more silverware.
It appears that he doesn’t mind too much which team he turns out for in the US-based tournament, which kicks off in mid-June, as long as he has a chance of lifting the coveted trophy.
Despite the recent friction with Pioli, Ronaldo has been banging in the goals this term. He has found the back of the net 19 times in 24 Saudi Pro League appearances, and remains hungry for success.
Ronaldo's winning mentality
Real Madrid, a side where he became their all-time top scorer and scooped his fifth Ballon d’Or, could well be his next destination in a bid for further glory. Realistically they have a much better chance of winning the Club World Cup.
Yet a return to Juventus is viable if interim head coach Igor Tudor believes that he could enhance his squad, and the money is available to re-sign the legendary striker.
Tudor already has a tough task in trying to secure Champions League soccer next term, and won his maiden match with a slender 1-0 home win over Genoa. The former Juve defender/midfielder has eight more matches to tackle before the Club World Cup finals where he could face a selection headache.
With many of the Juventus loanees out of contract at the end of June, the club would have to fork out big bucks to their respective parent clubs should the Bianconeri progress in the Club World Cup that runs until mid-July.
Potential dream team
The cost to lure Ronaldo for a short stint with Juventus would definitely interest Paolo Ardoino, the latest shareholder in Juve. It would not be a financial gamble as shirt sales would hit the roof and there’s lucrative prize money on offer at the Club World Cup.
Ardoino has twisted US president Donald Trump’s former political slogan by using his own similar motto of ‘Make Juventus Great Again’, so would undoubtedly like someone like Ronaldo’s briefly back at the club although he could prefer to also bring in a serial-winning head coach.
He has already mentioned Jose Mourninho and former Juventus player Zinedine Zidane as a future manager with the Bianconeri. If the club want to have a shot at lifting the Club World Cup, then either of these head coaches could be tempted to lead Juve for the prestigious tournament.
Ronaldo, who joined Juventus for €100 million (US$107.8m) in 2018, was a goal machine and fans favorite in Turin. He returned to Manchester United in August 2021, but the following year fell out with manager Erik ten Hag and left.
He has been a roaring success with Al-Nassr, and his incredible thirst to keep on winning trophies continues. Real Madrid seems a more likely destination, but if Juventus can assure Ronaldo that they are capable of lifting the Club World Cup then their former star could be shining on the big stage yet again.