‘Cristiano Ronaldo chewed grass’ to show frustration with Sarri at Juventus

Former Juventus defender Gianluca Frabotta reveals that Cristiano Ronaldo once ‘smelled and chewed’ grass to show frustration with Maurizio Sarri’s instructions.

Former Juventus defender Frabotta revealed how Portuguese legend Ronaldo showed his reluctance to follow Sarri’s tactical advice during the Italian coach’s one-season spell at the Allianz Stadium.

Frabotta was part of that team in 2019-20, and he told Corriere della Sera: “[Ronaldo was] an everyday example. One of his gestures really stuck with me.

“During a tactical drill, Sarri was showing him the movements he was supposed to make on set pieces. He was a bit annoyed. He didn’t need instructions; he was different. He could feel inside where the ball was going to end up. To make the coach understand, he tore up some grass, smelled it and chewed it.”

Frabotta said Ronaldo even explained his gesture: “‘I like to understand the pitch, and where the ball goes,’” said the Portuguese.

Ronaldo spent three seasons at Juventus, netting 101 goals in 134 appearances. Ironically, however, the Portuguese had his most prolific season in Italy under Sarri, netting 37 goals in 46 games.

Juventus lifted the Serie A title that season and, to date, it’s the last one won by the Old Lady.

Frabotta went on to play for Verona, Frosinone, Bari, Cosenza and West Bromwich Albion before joining Serie B side Cesena this summer.

It’s fair to say that the 26-year-old didn’t quite enjoy his time in England last season.

“After some positive months in Cosenza, I accepted the offer from West Bromwich. It didn’t go well. I met people who turned out to be disrespectful towards me,” he said.

“Even if I felt good and trained at my best, I was never taken into consideration. It was frustrating, and I felt powerless. I was far from Italy, the climate was different, I hardly went out, and I didn’t know the language. I felt alone, but I decided to fight back.”