“I see myself in his desire to improve” - Portugal forward says he’s set to talk to Cristiano Ronaldo after joining his captain’s former club
Juventus summer loanee signing Francisco Conceicao has said that he is eager to improve himself à la national teammate Cristiano Ronaldo. The 21-year-old says he is set to discuss his move to Bianconeri with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Francisco Conceicao joined Juventus on a season-long loan from Porto earlier this summer. He recently revealed that coach Thiago Motta has told him to enjoy the experience and show his class at the club.
Amidst the receptive and encouraging atmosphere he got from Motta, Conceicao is excited to have a similar footballing career journey as Cristiano Ronaldo. He is set to use that as a motivation to up his game. When asked if he spoke with Cristiano Ronaldo before joining Juventus, he said (via Football Italia):
“I still haven’t talked to him, but I will surely do so. Our trajectories share many similar traits, and I see myself in his desire to improve.”
On his move to Juventus, he said during his unveiling press conference:
“I am feeling well. The team and the staff welcomed me warmly. I have positive feelings, and I want consistency now. I am working daily to return [from injury] quickly. I am calm because it’s not a big thing, we’ll see with time. When Juventus call, you want to arrive as soon as possible. I want to help the club and am sure I made the right decision.”
Francisco Conceicao is currently out of action for the Old Lady as he suffered a muscular injury in the club’s training session on September 4. As per reports, the Portugal international will be out of action for at least 20 days.
How did Cristiano Ronaldo fare at Juventus?
Cristiano Ronaldo’s transfer to Juventus in July 2018 marked a significant chapter in both the player’s illustrious career and the club’s history. He left Real Madrid, where he had achieved unprecedented success, to join the Italian giants for a fee reported to be around €100 million.
Expectations were sky-high for Ronaldo’s individual performances. There was also excitement for what his presence would bring to Juventus in terms of trophies and global appeal.
From the outset, Ronaldo made a substantial impact. In his debut season (2018-2019), he contributed 21 goals and nine assists in 31 Serie A games, helping Juventus secure its eighth consecutive league title. He also won the inaugural Serie A award for Most Valuable Player the same season.
Ronaldo’s goal-scoring prowess did not just elevate his personal statistics; it also revitalized Juventus’s attacking style. His pace, technical skills, and powerful shots provided Juventus with an additional weapon, making them a more formidable opponent both domestically and in Europe.
Despite his personal success, the Champions League eluded Juventus during Ronaldo’s tenure. The club's ambitions to secure their first European trophy since 1996 remained unmet, leading to criticism and questions about whether the investment in Ronaldo was worth it.
He also finished as the league's top scorer in the 2020-2021 season (29 goals). He overall scored 101 goals and provided 22 assists in 134 games for the club, winning numerous trophies. He left the Bianconeri in 2021 to return to Manchester United.