Ronaldo was injured on international duty
Cristiano Ronaldo is a doubt for Juventus’ Champions League tie against Ajax, his manager has confirmed.
Ronaldo, who is on course to win his fourth Champions League title in succession this season, injured a thigh muscle during Portugal’s Euro 2020 qualifier against Serbia in midweek.
Although the 34-year-old played down the severity of the injury in a post-match interview, Massimiliano Allegri stated on Friday that he could miss the first leg of the quarter-final against the Dutch club as he recovers.
“He’s already started to move but he won’t return to training until he feels fit. There is a risk he’ll miss the first leg against Ajax,” Allegri said.
“We have to be careful because we’re in a tricky period of the season. It’s better he misses one match and comes back when he’s 100 per cent so there’s no risk of a repeat injury. It’s better to miss one match than two months.”
Juventus travel to Amsterdam for the first game on April 10, welcoming Ajax to Turin the following week.
Already 15 points clear at the summit of Serie A, Juve are looking to win their first Champions League title since 1996, when they beat Ajax in the final.
Ronaldo scored a hat-trick in their last outing in the competition, helping his team overcome a two-goal first-leg deficit to Atletico Madrid.
The winner of the tie between Juventus and Ajax will face either Tottenham or Manchester City for a place in the Champions League final in Madrid in May.
