Cristiano Ronaldo’s glittering career has rarely faced criticism for effort, but a surprising revelation from Andrea Pirlo’s former assistant suggests otherwise. Alparslan Erdem, who worked with Pirlo in Turkey, explained that the coach's tactical system clashed with Ronaldo’s style, leading the Italian to secretly prefer Alvaro Morata during his time at the helm in Turin.
Why Pirlo preferred Morata over Ronaldo at Juventus
Ronaldo’s spell at Juventus brought goals, trophies and unmatched professionalism, yet behind the scenes, it wasn’t always a perfect fit. During Pirlo’s only season as head coach in 2020–21, the Italian legend struggled to mould a system that could balance his ideas with Ronaldo’s free-flowing, goal-hungry instincts.
Now, Erdem who was Pirlo’s former assistant at Turkish side Karagumruk has shed new light on the tactical tension that defined that season. Speaking to , Erdem revealed that while Pirlo respected Ronaldo’s talent, his data-driven approach showed the former Manchester United star wasn’t ideal for his preferred pressing system.
AdvertisementGettyErdem spills the beans on Pirlo
The 36-year-old Shkupi manager revealed some candid details about Pirlo. Erdem claims the Juventus legend preferred Morata over Ronaldo but couldn't bench the former Real Madrid winger as Serie A side spent a whooping €117m on him in the same year.
"We did an analysis, and his analyst gave us some data. One thing was clear: [Pirlo] didn't like [Paulo] Dybala, and Cristiano Ronaldo wasn't at all suited to his style of play," Erdem said.
He further added: "He wanted to press high, and the data showed that Cristiano Ronaldo was the worst at sprinting. He didn't want him, but there was nothing he could do. That was just Cristiano Ronaldo.
"He liked Álvaro Morata much more, who was perfect for his 4-4-2 system. His system couldn't cope with Ronaldo, but he just couldn't do anything against him."
The challenge of managing a superstar
Managing Ronaldo has consistently tested even the most experienced coaches, a challenge Pirlo also faced during his time at Juventus. Ronaldo’s commanding personality, unmatched ambition and relentless pursuit of excellence often made it difficult to balance individual brilliance with tactical discipline.
Maurizio Sarri, who coached Ronaldo at Juventus in 2019–20, admitted that integrating him into a rigid system wasn’t easy. He often felt frustrated trying to balance Ronaldo’s instinctive, attacking nature with the structured play he wanted to implement. Despite moments of tension, Sarri acknowledged Ronaldo’s remarkable ability to stay focused and quickly move on from setbacks, highlighting his elite mentality.
Jose Mourinho’s experience with Ronaldo at Madrid was defined by mutual respect but also by the clash of two strong egos. He often described managing Ronaldo as an exercise in letting go of excessive control, understanding that certain players perform best when granted freedom rather than restriction.
At United, Erik ten Hag and Ralf Rangnick both encountered similar challenges. Ten Hag had to deal with Ronaldo’s dissatisfaction over reduced playing time, which culminated in his refusal to come on as a substitute in one match. Rangnick, too, faced public criticism from Ronaldo, who questioned his authority and managerial credentials. Both situations underscored the difficulty of managing a superstar whose personal standards and influence often overshadowed team directives.
Even Fernando Santos, who shared a long and successful stint with Ronaldo in the Portugal national team, saw the relationship strain during the 2022 World Cup. Tactical decisions to substitute Ronaldo led to visible frustration and a noticeable shift in team morale.
Getty Images SportRonaldo's final year at Juventus
In his last year at Juve, Ronaldo scored 36 goals in 44 appearances, winning the Serie A Capocannoniere with 29 league goals. He became the fastest Bianconeri player to reach 100 goals in just 131 games. Despite his individual success, Juventus finished fourth, but won the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana. Ronaldo's goal-focused style contrasted with coach Pirlo's possession-based system, yet their relationship remained respectful. That season marked the end of Juventus's nine-year Serie A title streak.
