Cristiano Ronaldo explained the reasoning behind his Juve move while calling 2018  “a very difficult year.”

The Portuguese forward gave a lengthy interview to TVI explaining the reasoning for his move and what the change has meant for him and his family.

“I don’t need football to live well, I’m fine financially,” he told TVI.

“What I need are attractive projects and Juve’s is one of them. I’ve always liked this team, they’re the best in Italy and one of the best in the world.

“They’ve always fought to establish themselves in Europe. And after winning in England and Spain, I also won in Italy and I’m happy to be here.

“Everyone wants to win the Champions League, us included, but we mustn’t treat it as an obsession.

“We must things take their course and go step by step. After that, we must remember that money doesn’t make the teams great. Look at how many years Barcelona, ​​Bayern or PSG haven’t won the Champions League.

“I was worse in defeat a few years ago. If I lost, sometimes I didn’t have dinner, I’d go into a room and left the next day.

“With maturity, I learned that the most important thing in life wasn’t football. Obviously you have to be focused, because it’s your job, but you can also disconnect from it.

“Georgina knows nothing about football and I’m happy about that. She thinks like me and supports me in my choices, like coming to Turin.

“I could end my career next year, but I could also play until I’m 40, 41. I don’t know, but what I always say is that you have to enjoy the moment. The present is excellent and I must enjoy it.

“I believe no player holds more records than me. It wasn’t easy to leave Madrid. I was there for nine years, 60 percent of my career.

“I’d lifted 17 trophies and it had become a routine, but I wanted a different challenge and I’m very happy to be here.

“Leaving Madrid was even more complicated for my son Cristianinho because he had his friends there, but I’d been preparing to leave for months.

“He understood that there was the possibility his father would leave Real. He didn’t believe it, but he knew it could happen.

 

“I’m a person who doesn’t like to stay in a comfort zone and Madrid was becoming one. I wanted a new challenge.

“Adapting was easy and Cris speaks four languages, even better than me. However, many of my teammates speak Spanish and English.

“It’s a challenge to become the player with most militancy, but there are other priorities in life. I have children and a woman.

“It’s worth facing this sacrifice, but I certainly love challenges and perfecting myself.

“I’ve won a lot of awards. And many times when I didn’t win, I felt it was the right decision. Other times I didn’t.

“Whoever wins always deserves to, and I’m one of the best in my work. I’m now in the history of football.

“It’s no coincidence that Messi and I are the only ones to have won five Ballon d’Or. I’m obsessed with success.

“It’s my job, but it’s not the end of the world if I don’t win. I still have the motivation to try to reassert myself on a collective and individual level, otherwise I’d have already stopped playing.

“It would be easy to stop because I’m not missing out on anything, but what moves me is m passion for football and desire to win.

“Work is everything, even Nobel-prize winners are great workers… I like learning from other sportspeople, like Obikwelu. I like to emulate good examples.

2018 saw a rape allegation made against Ronaldo, something he has always denied.

“It’s been a very difficult year, perhaps my toughest, but not in professional terms.

“When people question your integrity, it hurts, above all because I have a big family, a partner, four children, a 9-year-old who is intelligent and already understands things.

“It went into our home because of a newspaper and it was really difficult for me, as it was for my whole family.

“It’s a case that I don’t feel comfortable talking about, but thankfully it’s been proved that I’m innocent.

“My friends, loved ones and those who love me knew I was innocent. I’m proud of them, for how they reacted. I’m myself once more.

“Transfers today? It’s hard to say how much I’m worth now. Today any player costs €100m. Joao Felix is a special case, but if you look at defenders and goalkeepers being sold for €70-80m…

“I don’t agree with it, but that’s the market we’re in now and the times we live in. Maybe I’d be worth 3-4 times as much as I was.

“My subconscious is working. I’m giving 75 percent and no more than 100 percent, but I’m still as motivated as I was on my first day.

“I want to win everything with Juventus, the Champions League, of course. The 2022 World Cup will also be spectacular.”