Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici has defended record signing Cristiano Ronaldo and said the Bianconeri star deserved to be named The Best FIFA Men's Player for 2019 ahead of Lionel Messi.
Barcelona icon Messi, 32, won the FIFA accolade for the first time in his career, but Paratici told Corriere dello Sport (h/t Goal's Kieran Francis) it should have been Ronaldo who collected the trophy:
"We are also disappointed over the award last night.
"While still respecting Messi, who is a great player, we think and thought that after last season, having won the Nations League, Serie A, and the Italian Super Cup, having played a great Champions League, he [Ronaldo] deserved this award.