New Lazio boss Maurizio Sarri has revealed that he had a difficult experience managing Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus. Sarri spent one season as the Juventus boss and he had a topsy-turvy relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo who had signed for the Old Lady a year before Sarri’s appointment as Juve boss.

Sarri talked about Cristiano Ronaldo and his time at Juventus in a recent interview monitored by Football Italia. He was speaking for the first time since being named the Lazio coach on a two-year deal. Sarri was appointed by the capital club as a replacement for Simone Inzaghi who’s the new Inter Milan manager. Inzaghi moved from Lazio to Inter after title-winning manager Antonio Conte parted ways with the Nerazzuri earlier this summer.

On Cristiano Ronaldo, Sarri said that people focused more on individuals rather than team before adding that he found it difficult to manage the Portuguese international who has personal interests that go beyond the team. The former Chelsea and Napoli tactician went on to say that he’s a coach and not a manager.

Ronaldo was replaced twice by Sarri during his time as the Juventus coach and he stormed off the pitch in one of those two games. The Portuguese national team captain stormed off the pitch to show his displeasure at being substituted during the game against AC Milan in the league.

Sarri was sacked by the Juventus hierarchy shortly after the Old Lady were dumped out of the Champions League by French club Lyon at the round of 16 stage. Lyon won their last 16 tie on away goals despite losing 2-1 in the second leg in Turin. The French team had beaten Juve 1-0 in the first leg. Sarri remain contracted to Juventus until last month when the club activated the €2m clause to rescind the one year left on his contract. He had signed a three-year deal at Juventus shortly after his brief spell with Chelsea in the Premier League.