Rangers flop Bruno Alves admits former Portugal team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo wanted the defender to join him at Serie A giants Juventus when he was the captain of Parma, speaking to Calciomercato.
As the 96-cap centre-half bid farewell to Ibrox after a disappointing spell alongside Pedro Caixinha during a topsy-turvy 2017/18 season, the assumption was that his time at the top level had long since come to an end.
Alves soon set about proving that there was, indeed, plenty of life left in this old dog howeever. The Porto legend was a man reborn at Parma, captaining the side while making no fewer than 85 appearances in just three seasons in Italy’s top flight.
In fact, Alves was so impressive that Cristiano Ronaldo pushed for the now-40-year-old to join him in Turin.
Cristiano Ronaldo wanted former Rangers defender Bruno Alves at Juventus
“There was this opportunity. (Juventus) had two injured defenders, so the management thought of me,” explains Alves. “And (agent Jorge) Mendes called me to ask me what I thought; Ronaldo told me he would help me go to Turin.
“In the end, however, Juve chose (Martin) Caceres. (Masimiliano) Allegri wanted him because he covered several roles and already knew him. Among other things, I was captain of Parma. It would have been difficult to leave.”
Alves, a league champion in Russia, Portugal and Turkey, announced his retirement from professional football in June. He is now working as a sporting director at Greek outfit AEK Athens.
“For me, it is an important opportunity,” Alves says of his new behind-the-scenes role. “After many years as a player, I started a new project.”
AEK Athens are currently second in Greece’s top flight, behind only a Panathinaikos side who have won all ten of their league games so far.
Alves’ former employers Rangers, meanwhile, head to St Johnstone this weekend hoping to keep pace with Glasgow neighbours Celtic at the summit of the Scottish Premiership table.
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