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Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo walks out the Juventus medical center at the Alliance stadium in Turin on July 16, 2018 to greet supporters. - Cristiano Ronaldo arrived in Turin ahead of his official unveiling as Juventus' superstar summer signing on July 17. (Photo by Isabella Bonotto / AFP) (Photo credit should read ISABELLA BONOTTO/AFP/Getty Images)
Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo walks out the Juventus medical center at the Alliance stadium in Turin on July 16, 2018 to greet supporters. - Cristiano Ronaldo arrived in Turin ahead of his official unveiling as Juventus' superstar summer signing on July 17. (Photo by Isabella Bonotto / AFP) (Photo credit should read ISABELLA BONOTTO/AFP/Getty Images)ISABELLA BONOTTO/Getty Images

Cristiano Ronaldo Reportedly Won't Join Juventus for USA Tour, MLS All-Star Game

Tom Sunderland
Jul 18, 2018

Cristiano Ronaldo will not get his reunion opposite former club Real Madrid this summer following reports he'll miss Juventus' pre-season tour of the United States, where they're set to feature in the International Champions Cup.

The stage was set for the new Bianconeri star to potentially debut against Real, whom he served for nine years, but Mirko Calemme ofย AS wrote that Juve training staff advised it would be better if he remained in Italy.

It's said Ronaldo had a "lengthy meeting" with manager Massimiliano Allegri before the decision was made, which means he'll also miss pre-season matches against Bayern Munich, Benfica and the MLS All-Star game.ย 

Calemmeย noted Ronaldo was not contractually obligated to participate inย Juve's tour of the U.S., though it's possible his annual tour of China could have played a role after he set off on Wednesday:

Allegri's men begin theirย pre-season schedule againstย Bayernย at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia in one week's time, and though Ronaldo is expected back forย pre-season on July 30, it seems it won't be in the States.

Juveย faceย Benficaย at the Red Bull Arena in New Jersey on Saturday, July 28. They're scheduled to take on theย MLSย All-Stars the following Wednesday, August 1, in Atlanta, Georgia, before they close their tour againstย UEFAย Champions League holders Real on Saturday, August 4.

Ronaldo's integration into Allegri's setup could be set back slightly by his absence from theย pre-season routine, although he's not the type to allow himself an easier ride than any of his team-mates.

The news meansย Serieย A audiences will be the first to watch Ronaldo play inย Juventusย colours, and it's clear from the way Ronaldo speaks so reverently of the club that he's looking forward to beginning his work:

It's a big blow for those in the U.S. who were eager to catch a glimpse of Ronaldo on their own shores, with the forward preparing for his firstย pre-season away from Losย Blancosย in almost a decade.

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