While Cristiano Ronaldo endured a quiet game in the Champions League clash with Atletico on Wednesday, the Portuguese star still made the headlines after trolling the the Madrid giant.
In Juventus trip to the Wanda Metropolitano, the 34-year-old superstar was subject to abuse from the home fans, and for obvious reasons, given he is the opposing team's best player and has an excellent record against Simeone's men. "Cristiano, pay your taxes" and “Cristiano, you son of b***h” could be heard from the stand, prompting an epic troll from the five-time Ballon d'Or winner.
The former Real Madrid ace held up five fingers in response, representing the five Champions League titles he has won his career, the most by any player in the competition's history. After the final whistle, Ronaldo repeated this statement as he walked through the media mixed zone, saying: “I have five Champions Leagues, and these guys (Atlético) zero."
Los Rojiblancos president Enrique Cerezo, however, has now hit back at the Serie A attacker. Speaking in an interview with Italian radio station Radio CRC, the Atletico figure argued that in his eyes, the Portuguese forward has only three titles, not five.
Cerezo said (as per AS): “For me, Cristiano doesn’t have five Champions Leagues. He has three and for one very simple reason: Both against Atlético Madrid he didn’t win. Who won them? That, we’ll talk about in the next interview.”
While the Atletico president left his reasoning to the imagination, it could be interpreted as a dig at the fact that Ronaldo failed to impress in his two Champions League final encounters with Atletico. While he scored the match-winning penalty in the most recent run-in, he was quiet from open play. Furthermore, in that unforgettable 2014 showdown, while the then Merengues ace scored in extra-time, he was outshone by the likes of Di Maria, who was named Man of the Match, and Bale.
As for Juventus' current European campaign, they are starring at a round of 16 exit. Allegri's side lost 2-0 in Madrid and will have to score three without a reply in order to secure progression.
