Cristiano Ronaldo has refused to wear a special Serie A badge awarded to him for winning Player of the Season last year with Juventus, in a sign of respect to his club team mates.
The Portuguese supremo enjoyed a successful debut season with the Old Lady, scoring 28 goals and providing 10 assists across all competitions.
His performances earned him the Player of the Season award at the conclusion of the 2018-19 campaign, as Juventus strolled to an eight consecutive league title.
As reported by Marca, Serie A have introduced an initiative to recognise the efforts of the league’s best players by awarding them with special badges that are worn on their match day kits the following season.
Other award winners included Inter’s Samir Handanovic (best goalkeeper), Roma’s Nicolo Zaniolo (best youngster), Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly (best defender), Lazio’s Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (best midfielder) and veteran striker Fabio Quagliarella (best forward).
Serie A has left it to the respective award winners to decide whether to have their badges adorned on their jerseys, Ronaldo has refused to have his badge placed on the famous Juve kit, with it being reported that the 34-year-old doesn’t want to be seen as superior to his team mates.
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star has had a good start to the season for Juventus, netting in last weekend’s thrilling 4-3 win over Napoli.
The reigning Serie A champions looked to be in control after their Portuguese star gave his side a three goal cushion just past the hour mark following first half strikes from Danilo and Gonzalo Higuain.
However, Napoli pulled two quick fire goals back through Kostas Manolas and Hirving Lozano in the space of two minutes before Giovanni Di Lorenzo looked to have snatched Napoli a point with a late equaliser.
But in time added on, Napoli’s Senegal defender Koulibaly turned the ball into his own net to gift Juve their second Serie A win of the season in front of boss Maurizio Sarri, who was watching from the stands following a bout of pneumonia.
Ronaldo will now join his Portuguese team mates for their upcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers as the UEFA Nations League champions face Serbia and Lithuania in Group B.
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