UEFA: Messi speaks on Ronaldo, reveals favourite club to win Champions League trophy

Barcelona ace, Lionel Messi has said that Juventus are clear favorites to win this season’s UEFA Champions League now that they have forward, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo left Madrid as their all-time highest goalscorer to join the Italian giants earlier this summer in a 100-million-euro deal.

Messi believes that Madrid are less strong without Ronaldo, adding that he was surprised by the Portuguese’s decision to leave the Santiago Bernabeu to joined Juve.

“Real Madrid are less strong without Cristiano Ronaldo in their squad, as obviously he is one of the best in the world,” Messi told Catalunya Radio.

“Juventus are a clear favourite to win the Champions League now they have Cristiano Ronaldo. I was surprised by his decision, as I didn’t expect him to leave Madrid or go to Juventus. It’s a very good team.”

Messi added, “We’ve gone out in the quarter-finals for three years running and the last one was the most painful for the way it came about. We have to aim for the trophy, because we can do it.

“We missed out because of details, in the Pep Guardiola era against Inter, and Chelsea. Other clubs are strong, have a lot of money and sign many players, like the two Manchesters, Chelsea, Real Madrid, PSG, various Italian clubs, they all have a lot of money.

“Plus when things don’t go our way, we struggle to react, as we did against Roma. We did not react the right way during the game.”