Julen Lopetegi, the new Real Madrid boss, has for the first time spoken on the move of Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid to Juventus.
The Spaniard said the superstar’s move to Italy was unpreventable.
The 33-year-old decided to leave Bernabeu to embark on a new challenge in Serie A after nine glittering years in La Liga.
Ronaldo’s move to Juventus has not been well-received by Real Madrid fans, particularly given the club’s failure to land a replacement.
Lopetegui succeeded Zinedine Zidane in June and was powerless to prevent Ronaldo from jumping ship.
Julen Lopetegi
Real Madrid have enjoyed a solid, if unspectacular, start to the new season.
Gareth Bale is now their talisman and, in the post-Ronaldo climate, the Wales international is back to his blockbuster best.
And Lopetegui has now revealed why he was unable to convince the Portuguese to stay.
“I did not speak with him [Ronaldo],” Lopetegui was quoted by Express Sports.
“Because when I become Real Madrid coach, he had already chosen to leave.”
Lopetegui was confirmed as Real Madrid’s manager on June 12 while Ronaldo officially completed his move to Juve a month later on July 10.