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Ronaldo set for Turin debut as Juventus break billion-euro mark on stock
exchange
TURIN, Italy, Aug 25, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo plays his first
competitive game in Turin on Saturday as it was revealed that his arrival at
Juventus has pushed the Serie A champions over the billion-euro mark on the
Italian stock exchange.
According to Calcio e Finanza, a specialist sport and finance website, at
the close of business on Friday, Juventus were valued at 1.035 billion euros
($1.2 billion).
It is the first time the club has reached that level since its
introduction on the stock exchange in 2001.
That compares to Manchester United, the world’s richest club, whose
overall value is o3.1bn ($3.9 billion).
Juventus’s shares have grown 55.15 percent on the stock exchange since
July 1, increasing from 0.660 euro to 1.024 euros.
“The rise peaked this summer, starting in June, when the first information
about the possible arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo began circulating,” noted
Calcio e Finanza.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner joined the Serie A champions from Real
Madrid on July 10 in a 100-million-euro deal. He earns a salary of 30 million
euros per year.
Since his arrival sales of the club’s black and white jersey have also
exploded.
Calcio e Finanza added that the volume of share sales went from 19 million
euros in June to 301 million euros in July.
Ronaldo played his first competitive game in a 3-2 win against Chievo in
Verona last weekend. His first game in Turin is against Lazio on Saturday at
1600 GMT.
“There’s excitement in the air!” said Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri.
“Ronaldo is bringing a great enthusiasm to Italian football, I see all the
people that are waiting outside, but regardless of the excitement, we still
have to win games.
“We haven’t won anything just by signing him, so we have to show that on
the pitch.
“Lazio will make it a great encounter, they defeated us last season at
Allianz Stadium to end a 41-game unbeaten run. So it’s very important, even
if it is only our second match of the season.”
Simone Inzaghi’s Roman side — who finished fifth last season — lost
their opening match of the season 1-0 against Napoli.
“It would be wrong to only think about Ronaldo,” said Inzaghi.
“They’ll also play (Paulo) Dybala and (Mario) Mandzukic, and they have so
many alternatives on the bench.”
BSS/AFP/MSY/1643 hrs