Merih Demiral is heading back to Juventus, but the Bianconeri are willing to find a new club for the Turkey international who could reunite with Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United: here’s how they became friends in Turin.
It was quite rare to see CR7 hanging around with his teammates during his three-year spell in Turin, but Demiral was one of his closest mates under the Mole, along with third-choice goalkeeper Carlo Pinsoglio.
Ronaldo and Demiral spent three years together at Juventus. last summer, the Turkey international joined Atalanta on a temporary deal with an option to buy, while Ronaldo made a sensational return to Manchester United. Demiral was the first one to leave and Ronaldo paid a visit to his home in Turin before the defender packed his suitcase to move to Bergamo.
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Demiral also shared a social media message for his friend following his return to Manchester United at the end of August.
“It was a pleasure to play alongside you. Being a part of your story will always be special. Best of luck in your new life my brother. See you at the Champions League nights,” he wrote on Instagram.
They did eventually meet in the Champions League group stage and both put their names on the scoresheet in the Red Devils’ 3-2 win at Old Trafford in October. Ronaldo scored a late winner and bagged two more in the reverse fixture in Bergamo, where La Dea held United to a 2-2 draw, which, however, wasn’t enough for Gian Piero Gasperi’s boys to qualify for the Round of 16 for the third successive season.
Demiral speaks Portuguese fluently, so he immediately became very close to Ronaldo at Continassa. CR7 was surprised to find out that the defender was speaking the same language and he’s remained on good terms with the Turkey international on and off the pitch.
The Portuguese superstar was one of the first teammates to send Demiral a message on Instagram following an anterior cruciate ligament injury in January 2020.
“Ronaldo and I are really close, he’s always helped me a lot and we often chat on Whatsapp,” Demiral said this past December, following Atalanta’s elimination from the Champions League.
“He is one of the most special people I’ve ever met.”
It remains to be seen if they will eventually reunite at Old Trafford, but given their past, both would surely be delighted to play together again.
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