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Ronaldo says he's not fully fit, shoots down rumors of Sarri rift

Daniele Badolato - Juventus FC / Juventus FC / Getty

Cristiano Ronaldo is downplaying suggestions of a row with Juventus manager Maurizio Sarri in the wake of being substituted against AC Milan prior to the international break.

The 34-year-old walked straight down the tunnel when Paulo Dybala replaced him during Juventus' 1-0 win last week.

Sarri said afterward that a lingering knee issue necessitated the early substitution, and Ronaldo shared on Sunday that he's been hurting lately.

"In the last three weeks, I have been playing with limitations," Ronaldo told reporters after Portugal's 2-0 win over Luxembourg on Sunday. "But there was no controversy - you (the media) created that.

"I tried to help Juventus. Nobody likes to be substituted but I understood because I wasn't in such good shape," he continued.

Ronaldo, who scored his 99th international goal on Sunday to help Portugal clinch a spot at Euro 2020, added that he also wasn't fully fit for the Selecao's two qualifiers over the past week.

"I sacrificed myself for the team," he said. "We could have missed out (on Euro 2020) ... It's a pain that prevents me from being 100%, but I always try to play. They created a big controversy where it didn't need to exist. I'll be back to 100% soon."

The shoddy pitch at the Stade Josy Barthel in Luxembourg on Sunday wouldn't have done Ronaldo any favors as he nurses an injury. The sloppy turf made it tricky for the players to find their footing.

"It's difficult to play on these pitches - it was a potato field, I don't know how teams of our level are supposed to play on these pitches," Ronaldo said.

"It wasn't a good spectacle but we did our job ... I'm looking forward to my fifth European Championship."

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