Julen Lopetegui describes life at Real Madrid without the ‘extraordinary’ Cristiano Ronaldo as ‘an exciting challenge.’
The Portuguese left the European champions to sign for Juventus this summer in a €100m deal.
The 33-year-old played a key role in helping the Bernabeu club win four Champions Leagues and two La Liga titles during his time in the Spanish capital, but Lopetegui is excited by the challenges ahead.
Julen Lopetegui describes life at Real Madrid without the ‘extraordinary’ Cristiano Ronaldo as ‘an exciting challenge.’
The Portuguese left the European champions to sign for Juventus this summer in a €100m deal.
The 33-year-old played a key role in helping the Bernabeu club win four Champions Leagues and two La Liga titles during his time in the Spanish capital, but Lopetegui is excited by the challenges ahead.
“Reinventing Real Madrid without Cristiano Ronaldo is an exciting challenge,” the new Los Blancos Coach told reporters.
“We need to make the team competitive and fight for all our targets.
“I have no doubt that with the players we have, we will manage it.”
Lopetegui praised Ronaldo’s Real legacy, describing him as one of the club’s all-time greats.
“When I accepted Real’s offer he was still ours, but soon after he expressed his intention to leave.
“Cristiano is one of the most important players in the club’s history,
“He expressed his intention to leave and Real accepted, recognising the extraordinary legacy he has left behind.”