Juventus manager Andrea Pirlo has come to the defense of Cristiano Ronaldo after the Portuguese star appeared to throw his jersey away following their 3-1 Serie A victory against Genoa on Sunday.
The incident occurred at the Allianz Stadium when Ronaldo, who failed to get on the scoresheet during the match, was seen throwing his jersey before walking down the tunnel to the dressing room. Reports indicate he was giving the jersey to a ball boy when the action was captured.
Despite goals from Dejan Kulusevski, Alvaro Morata, and Weston McKennie securing all three points for the Bianconeri, it was Ronaldo's post-match reaction that grabbed media attention.
When questioned about Ronaldo's apparent frustration, Pirlo dismissed concerns by explaining it as a natural reaction from a player of his caliber.
"It's normal he wanted to score a goal, especially seeing that the match had turned out in a certain way," Pirlo told Sky Sport. "It is part of the attitude of champions who always want to leave their mark."
This isn't the first time Ronaldo's reactions have made headlines. Last month, during Portugal's 2-2 draw against Serbia in World Cup qualifying, the 36-year-old threw his captain's armband to the ground and walked down the tunnel after having a goal disallowed.
Despite not scoring against Genoa, observers noted that Ronaldo put in a strong overall performance for Juventus, contributing to their dominant display.
The victory keeps Juventus in contention in Serie A as they prepare for their next challenge against Atalanta on Sunday, April 18, where Ronaldo will be looking to return to the scoresheet.
Stay updated with the latest sports news and follow BenriNews on our social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, and Telegram.
