Cristiano Ronaldo U-turn made by Giorgio Chiellini with Lionel Messi claim

Molly McCann explains emotional reaction to winning $50k UFC bonus

Thomas Tuchel on his future at Chelsea

Rangnick hoping for more of the same from Ronaldo

Man Utd boss Ralf Rangnick reviews Spurs win

Jurgen Klopp on Mo Salah's contract

Cheltenham Festival 2022: All you need to know

Roman Abramovich added to the UK's sanctions list

Harry Redknapp’s new horse Back On The Lash performs at Cheltenham

Giorgio Chiellini has drastically softened his stance on Cristiano Ronaldo after previously claiming the Manchester United superstar demands "a team that would play for him".

The Italy captain, 37, spent three seasons as Ronaldo's teammate at Juventus between 2018 and 2021, winning two Serie A titles and the Coppa Italia together.

The Portuguese striker scored 101 goals for the Bianconeri after his arrival from Real Madrid in a £99million transfer, so his spell in Turin is viewed in a positive light.

However, Chiellini made some striking claims about his former colleague in October 2021, two months after Ronaldo sealed an astonishing return to Old Trafford.

The veteran defender appeared to claim Ronaldo needs the team to revolve around him while suggesting he did not fit in with Juve's "process of renewal".

"I had already figured out he could leave this summer, because we reached a stage of the working relationship where Cristiano needed new motivation and a team that would play for him," Chiellini told DAZN.

"When he finds a team like that, he can always be decisive, as he was at Juve too.

"Juventus are beginning a process of renewal and trying to bring the average age down, so clearly he would've been an added bonus if he'd stayed, but it's fair he wanted a team more focused on the present than the future."

Further,