Former Juventus midfielder Miralem Pjanic has revealed a fascinating anecdote about how manager Max Allegri once devised a clever tactic to ensure he, and not Cristiano Ronaldo, took a decisive free kick during a Serie A match.
The incident, which Pjanic recently recounted, took place in March 2019 during a high-stakes encounter against Napoli. Pjanic ultimately scored from the free kick, a moment he described as the “only way” he could get the opportunity with Ronaldo on the pitch.
Allegri’s Ingenious Intervention
Pjanic detailed the scenario, explaining that Cristiano Ronaldo had won the free kick, which also led to Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret being sent off. As Ronaldo was on the ground, seemingly touching his knee, Allegri seized the moment.
“Max Allegri saw Cris on the ground touching his knee and immediately sent the physios on for treatment,” Pjanic revealed. The Bosnian midfielder explained that Allegri’s swift action was a deliberate move to get Ronaldo off the pitch temporarily.
“This is because the free kick was so enticing, he got Cristiano off and let me take the free kick. And I scored from it!” Pjanic added, expressing his gratitude to his former manager. “This was the only way I could get the ball, so thank you, Max!”
Free-Kick Dynamics at Juventus
The anecdote sheds light on the internal dynamics at Juventus regarding set-piece responsibilities, particularly given Cristiano Ronaldo’s prolific goalscoring reputation. Despite his overall prowess, Ronaldo’s free-kick record at Juventus was notably modest. Statistics show that he scored only one free kick in 98 attempts during his Serie A tenure with the club.
In contrast, Miralem Pjanic, alongside Paulo Dybala, was consistently one of Juventus’s most effective free-kick takers. Allegri’s intervention highlights a pragmatic approach to maximise the team’s chances from dead-ball situations, even if it meant subtly circumventing the team’s biggest star.
Pjanic’s revelation offers a rare glimpse into the strategic thinking of top managers and the challenges of managing high-profile players, underscoring how Allegri prioritised team success through unconventional means.