A former assistant coach under Andrea Pirlo has claimed that the ex-Juventus boss preferred Álvaro Morata to Cristiano Ronaldo, arguing Ronaldo didn’t suit his tactical style. ([Sportskeeda / Tribuna] via Bild)
The assistant, Alparslan Erdem, said Pirlo’s system demanded high pressing and sprinting, areas where he believed Ronaldo under-performed.
“We did an analysis with some data … Pirlo didn’t like Dybala and Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t fit his style of play at all. He wanted to press high, and the data showed that Cristiano Ronaldo was the worst in sprints.”
Erdem added that while Pirlo favoured Morata, who he thought was “perfect for his 4-4-2 system,” he was constrained by Ronaldo’s status. “He didn’t want him, but there was nothing he could do – it’s Cristiano Ronaldo.”
Pirlo, who managed Ronaldo at Juventus for one season, has previously described his time with him in positive terms.
The revelation now adds another layer to debates over how player-tactics fit and whether star players can or should adapt.