Cristiano Ronaldo prepared for his first Champions League game as a Juventus player with a gruelling training session in Turin.
Juventus start their Champions League campaign with a visit to Valencia on Wednesday, while they will also face Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United and Swiss side Young Boys in Group H.
Ronaldo, signed by Juventus to help them claim a first Champions League title since 1996, completed a variety of fitness drills at the club’s training base.
Ronaldo will be looking to add more goals to his name after opening his Juventus account
Juan Cuadrado (l) and youngster Moise Kean take some time to pull poses for the camera
Having led Real Madrid to three Champions League titles, Ronaldo wants trophies at Juve
The 33-year-old, who was still sporting slight bruising around his eye after a clash against Parma, cost the Old Lady £100million in the summer from Real Madrid.
Juventus bosses are hoping he will provide the necessary firepower to claim the trophy after finishing as losing finalists in 2015 and 2017.
Ronaldo was joined in training by team-mates including Mehdi Benatia, Paulo Dybala, Juan Cuadrado and Giorgio Chielini.
The squad completed a series of fitness drills under the watchful eye of coach Massimiliano Allegri and his coaching staff.
The striker scored twice against Sassuolo having failed to register in his first three games
Ronaldo gets to work on his ball skills as his team-mates take a break during training
Juve haven’t won the Champions League since 1996, but were beaten finalists in 2015 and 2017
They then moved on to a series of exercises involving ball control, but there was time for Cuadrado and Moise Kean to pose for the camera.
With Ronaldo having left Madrid after winning three Champions League titles in a row, Madrid are generally seen as weaker this season.
Yet former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain full-back Dani Alves believes the opposite may be the case, and Real could prove harder than ever to beat.
‘I think that, contrary to what everybody else says, Madrid are more of a team without Cristiano, and now it’s a little more difficult than it was before – at least because of how I see football and my concept of this game.’
‘Though it’s obvious that him leaving is a brutal loss, Madrid are Madrid.’
Paris Saint-German’s Dani Alves believes Ronaldo’s exit makes Real Madrid more dangerous
Argentine striker Paulo Dybala has welcomed Ronaldo’s signing for the Turin side
The Italian champions travel to Spanish side Valencia for their opening Group H encounter
Juve will also play Swiss side Young Boys and Ronaldo’s old club Manchester United
And it’s not just the Brazilian who feels this way.
Gareth Bale told Sportsmail’s Ian Herbert that Real have been working more as a team following Ronaldo’s big-money move.
‘Obviously it’s going to be a little different from having such a big player there,’ Bale said. ‘It’s maybe a bit more relaxed, yes. I suppose there is more of a team, more working as one unit rather than one player.’
Summer signing Joao Cancelo leads the way in a speed exercise as Ronaldo watches on
Rodrigo Bentancur is one of several players pushing for a starting spot against Valencia
Mario Mandzukic scored in last season’s Champions League final and in the World Cup final