sassuolo

Italy legend Andrea Pirlo has admitted the he was pleased by the club’s decision to pursue Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid during the recent transfer window. Like many others, the former Juventus and AC Milan star had thought that the Portuguese’s link was initially a rumour but he got to know about the seriousness of the move after holding talks with sporting director Fabio Paratici.

Speaking to reporters, he said: “At first I thought it was just one of the many summer rumours, but then [Fabio] Paratici called me and told me: ‘It’s all true, we’re negotiating.’ I thanked him, Marotta and President Agnelli, but I don’t feel any nostalgia. In my career I was already lucky enough to share the dressing room with so many stars.”

Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain was delighted to notch his first hat-trick for the Old Lady during Sunday's 7-0 thumping of Sassuolo in the Serie A. The 30-year-old has not had the best of times with the Serie A holders this term, and he managed to put in a clinical performance against relegation-threatened Sassuolo.