‘I'm here to help Juventus win Champions League,’ says Cristiano Ronaldo at unveiling
Cristiano Ronaldo says one of the reasons he joined Juventus from Real Madrid was to help the Italian giants win the Champions League after a more than 20-year wait.
The Portugal star met Juve fans and the media at his unveiling on Monday, having joined the Turin club from Real Madrid in a €100 million (US$117 million) deal last week.
Ronaldo won four Champions League titles at Real Madrid, including three in successive seasons, to add to the title he won with Manchester United in 2008.
While he said winning Europe’s top club tournament with Juventus was not “an obsession,” he expressed his aim to help the club claim the title for the first time since 1996.
"I don't see the Champions League as an obsession. As the president has told me, it's not an obsession but a dream. I'm here to help Juventus make it come true. It's possible,” the 33-year-old striker said at a press conference.
Juventus have lost the last five Champions League finals they have played in. Ronaldo was part of the Real Madrid team that beat the Italians in the final in 2017, scoring twice, and helped knock out the Turin club at the quarter-final stage least season, scoring a memorable overhead kick in the first leg.
READ MORE: Official: Cristiano Ronaldo joins Juventus from Real Madrid
The striker said he was “honored” that Juventus had shown interest in signing him, and that he could help take the club to “a higher level” as they bid to add European glory to the domestic dominance, which has seen them win seven consecutive Serie A titles.
"For me this is not a step backwards. Playing for Juve is a step forward for my career. I'm very honoured that Juve decided to sign me and I want to lift them to an even higher level.
“I have always wanted to be an example on and off the pitch and I want to continue to that. I want to work hard and help Juve win trophies, and the team will help me in order to win together,” he added.
Ronaldo scored a record 451 goals for Real in his nine years at the club, winning four Champions Leagues and two La Liga titles, among numerous other accolades.
He also helped Portugal claim the European Championship in 2016, although he was injured early on in the final.
He recently appeared at the World Cup in Russia, where he scored four goals in the team’s run to the last 16, where they bowed out to Uruguay.
