Juventus CEO Fabio Paratici has responded to speculation linking record-signing Cristiano Ronaldo with a move away from the club.
Ronaldo has been making headlines this month amid speculation surrounding his future at Juventus, with Juventus' exit from the UEFA Champions League and the club's mounting financial situation casting doubt over the forward's future in Turin.
The 36-year-old was blamed for the Bianconeri's Champions League exit by former club boss Fabio Capello while ex-president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli branded him as a "mistake signing" and encouraged the reigning champions to cut ties with the five-time Ballon d'Or winner.
Ronaldo responded to the criticism in typical fashion by netting a first-half hat-trick during Juventus' 3-1 Serie A win over Cagliari over the weekend, and Paratici has now insisted that the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star's future is not in doubt.
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"It makes me smile. I never imagined Ronaldo could be put into question," he told Sky Sport Italia. "In my career, I never thought I would have to discuss whether Cristiano Ronaldo's transfer was positive or negative…
"I grew up in a small town in the Bassa Padana region called Borgonovo Val Tidone and I heard people making these type of comments outside the church or in the bars, about Gigi Rivera, Mazzola, Roberto Baggio, Michel Platini. I would have never thought of having one day to discuss these type of matters now at this level.
"This makes me smile. We're talking about a player who in 2020 scored 41 goals in 38 matches with Juventus. He is currently - not five years ago - the top scorer in Serie A. Ronaldo won five Ballon d'Or awards, I don't know how many Champions League titles.
"It's a privilege to have him here, and we'll hold on tight to him. We're very happy to have him here."