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Ronaldo-Messi comparisons over after Portugal star's Juventus switch - Valverde

Cristiano Ronaldo's individual battle with Lionel Messi could be over after his move from Real Madrid to Juventus, according to Barcelona head coach Ernesto Valverde.

Ronaldo and Messi vied for the right to lay claim to being Europe's best player during the nine years the former Manchester United forward spent at Madrid, but Valverde said his €112 million (£100m) switch to Serie A calls time on the pair's tussle.

Madrid finished third in La Liga in 2017-18, 17 points behind Valverde's champions - who also won the Copa Del Rey - but the Barca coach suggested this season would usher in a new era in Ronaldo's absence.