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Football

17th Jul 2018

Zinedine Zidane set for reunion with Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus

Both shocked fans by leaving Real Madrid this summer

Darragh Murphy

Real Madrid supporters have had to deal with a couple of shocks this summer.

Since claiming their third consecutive Champions League, Real Madrid have had to cope with the shock departures of both Zinedine Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Zidane stunned supporters by announcing his resignation on May 31 and Florentino Perez’s life was made even harder when his club’s talisman, Ronaldo, signed for Juventus this week.

Real’s loss is very much Juventus’ gain because, apparently, Zidane and Ronaldo are set to reunite at the Serie A side.

According to Libertad Digital, Zidane is not going to replace current Juve manager Massimiliano Allegri but, rather, he will take up a role in the club’s boardroom in October.

It’s reported that Zidane, who made 209 appearances for Juventus in the late 1990s, will act as a consultant for the club’s director of football, Fabio Paratici.

Zidane is beloved among fans of the Old Lady, having won the Ballon d’Or in 1998 while representing Juventus.

While the Frenchman won’t have as close a working relationship with Ronaldo as they had in Spain, it will certainly benefit the Portuguese superstar to have a familiar face around the club.

The 33-year-old has signed a four-year deal with the Italian giants and was unveiled as Juventus’ new no 7 on Monday.

“I am well – physically, mentally and emotionally,” Ronaldo said. “That is why I am so proud of being here and the way I have come here.

“I am different from all the other players who think that their career is over at my age, but I want to show the others that I am different. It is very emotional for me at the club now because I am not 23, I am 33.

“It gives me so much momentum for the future.”