Monaco: Cristiano Ronaldo can look forward to a return to Old Trafford in the Champions League this season after his new team Juventus came out in the same group as Manchester United in Thursday’s draw in Monaco.
Ronaldo spent six years at United, winning the Champions League in 2008, before moving to Real Madrid in 2009.
He will come up against his compatriot Jose Mourinho, under whom he played during his time at Real, while United midfielder Paul Pogba can also look forward to facing his old team.
United host Juventus on October 23 before going to Turin on November 7.
While those sides will be favourites to progress to the last 16 from Group H, they will have to be wary of Valencia, with the Spaniards returning to the group stage for the first time in three years.
Swiss champions Young Boys, group-stage debutants, look to be the makeweights in the section, and host United on the opening matchday on September 19.
“It’s a manageable group, but it all depends on us. Our destiny is in our own hands,” said Juve CEO Giuseppe Marotta.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid and Croatia star Luka Modric received the accolade of UEFA Player of the Year in Monaco, beating former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.
“I’m very happy to receive this great prize. I have worked hard for this, to get to the highest point possible,” said Modric, who starred in the Real side that won the Champions League for the third year running before also leading Croatia to the World Cup final.
“I can say for sure that this has been the best year of my career, collectively and individually, and I am enjoying the moment,” added the 32-year-old, who was announced as the winner of the prize after Thursday’s draw in Monaco for this season’s Champions League group stage.
Modric started out at Dinamo Zagreb and then had four years with Tottenham Hotspur before Real prised him away six years ago.
His success here, after he was named the best player at the World Cup, confirms that he should be among the favourites to win the Ballon d’Or, a prize dominated by Ronaldo and Lionel Messi over the last decade.
According to Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri, Cristiano Ronaldo was hopping mad at losing out to the Croatian star for the UEFA Player of the Year.
“Yesterday he (Ronaldo) was very angry, and it’s only normal,” said Allegri.
“He scored 15 goals in the Champions League and won the trophy with his teammates.”
“The attitude of Ronaldo shows how much he continues to strive and work to be still the best. This is an advantage for us.”
Allegri added that the choice of Modric was “a personal choice” of those who voted “and, as such, must be respected.”
Ronaldo, 33, had the consolation of being awarded the prize for best striker chosen by journalists and Champions League and Europa League coaches from last season.
Ronaldo had also won the UEFA award three times in the previous four years. (AFP)
