'Get Rid Of Ronaldo!' - Juventus Star Under Fire Again

The Portuguese has always had his critics, but he is looking increasingly frustrated in Turin with the Bianconeri out of Europe and the title race.

Cristiano Ronaldo has long since grown accustomed to intense media scrutiny and stinging public attacks.

"I know that people stand with their rifles waiting for me to miss a penalty or to fail in a decisive game," he told La Repubblica in May 2019 .

"But it is part of life and I must be prepared to accept that. And I have been prepared for many years."

Still, there are signs that he is feeling the strain of what must feel like a barrage of criticism since Juventus' shock last-16 elimination from the Champions League.

Indeed, it was clear that he wanted to send a message to his detractors when he pointed to his ear after completing a hat-trick at Cagliari on March 14 – just five days after the bitter Porto blow.

If he felt that would silence the naysayers, though, he has been proven sadly mistaken.

The debate over whether Juventus should retain Ronaldo for another year or try to get rid of him and his crippling pay packet has now ramped up a notch.

In the 36-year-old's defence, he has done exactly what was asked of him since arriving in Italy in 2018, by scoring goals and boosting the Bianconeri brand.

However, Juve are still struggling, both from a financial and sporting perspective, prompting many pundits to claim that the 'CR7 project' has failed and should, therefore, be abandoned.

The numbers certainly are not good. Juve have not once made it past the Champions League quarter-finals since Ronaldo signed, and are now feeling the effects of the economic crisis caused by coronavirus, on and off the pitch, with the forward's €31 million-per-annum salary only adding to their monetary woes.