Allegri barres Ronaldo From Taking Close-Range Free-kicks

By Joshua Walters

Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri has barred the club’s star signing Cristiano Ronaldo from taking short range free-kicks.

Allegri tells Calciomercato the Portuguese set-piece expert must leave short range free kicks for Paulo Dybala and Miralem Pjanic, who are equally good at the craft.

Dybala and Pjanic were already designated free-kick takers for Juventus before the five-time Ballon d’Or winner joined the Turin club from Real Madrid.

Ronaldo has since taken most of the free-kicks from both close and shot ranges, but Allegri is now restricting the Portuguese to long-range kicks.

"Free kicks? Ronaldo is a smart guy, he knows Pjanic and Dybala are very good with free kicks close to the area. When there are free kicks from far away, he can kick them, but we've decided that Dybala and Pjanic will take set pieces close to the area."