Benatia: ‘Ronaldo asked me to speak to Allegri at Juventus about skipping pre-match retreats’

Benatia: ‘Ronaldo asked me to speak to Allegri at Juventus about skipping pre-match retreats’ Medhi Benatia has revealed how Cristiano Ronaldo’s dislike of pre-match retreats led to a conversation with Massimiliano Allegri during their time together at Juventus. With quotes via Calciomercato.com , the former Morocco defender told the story to Canal+. Italian clubs traditionally keep their squads together in a hotel or at the training ground the night before matches, known as the ritiro, and Ronaldo found it hard to adjust when he arrived from Real Madrid in 2018. “In 2018 Cristiano Ronaldo arrived, and he didn’t really like the ritiro because he wasn’t used to it,” Benatia said. “He said to me: ‘Isn’t there a way to talk to the Italians a bit, to the coach?’ I replied: ‘Yes, of course, we’ll try.’ “So I went to Chiellini and said: ‘Gio, there’s this teammate who doesn’t really appreciate the ritiro and everything that comes with it.’ He asked: ‘Why? Did he tell you that?’ I said: ‘Yes, he came to me.’ “So we went to speak to the coach, Allegri at the time, together with Chiellini: ‘Mister, there are three or four players, especially the big players, who would prefer not to do the ritiro, if possible.’ The coach replied: ‘Whoever wants to go on the ritiro goes, whoever doesn’t want to doesn’t go.’” TURIN, ITALY – AUGUST 14: Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus looks on during the pre-season friendly match between Juventus and Atalanta BC at Allianz Stadium on August 14, 2021 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images) Benatia on Ronaldo and his Juventus move Benatia spent two and a half years with the Bianconeri, from 2016 to January 2019, winning two Scudetti, two Coppa Italia titles and a Supercoppa Italiana. He joined from Bayern Munich, where he never settled. “I wanted to leave after the first year, so I asked to go. I wanted to come back to Italy. Juve, Inter and other clubs were interested,” he explained. “After two months in Germany, I said to my wife: ‘Listen, I don’t know if I made the right choice here. I don’t feel comfortable. Italy is my second home.’ Medhi Benatia (@m.benatia5 via Instagram) “So I came back and joined Juve. That’s when you see how important work culture and discipline are.”