Max Allegri's trick to take the free kick away from Cristiano Ronaldo

Miralem Pjanic revealed to the panel of the Festival of Sport in Trento that Max Allegri, then coach of Juventus, devised a trick to prevent Cristiano Ronaldo from taking a decisive free kick during a Serie A match. “It was the only way to get the ball!” he said.

During the interview, Pjanic recounted that he had scored a free kick while Ronaldo was in the squad, emphasizing how the striker’s presence was a constant concern for coaches. “It was the only way I could get the ball!” he added, reiterating the need to keep the star away.

The role of Max Allegri

Allegri, seeing Cris on the ground with a hurt knee, immediately called the physiotherapists, thus creating the space needed for Pjanic to take the free kick. “This was the only way I could get the ball, so thank you, Max!” exclaimed the Bosnian midfielder, confirming the effectiveness of the move.

The debate in Portugal

The discussion moved to Portugal, where Cristiano Ronaldo left the Nations League training ground after a heated argument with coach Jorge Jesus. Allegri’s gesture was cited as an example of how to manage a champion’s ego, a long‑standing delicate issue for coaches.

According to the data, Ronaldo attempted ninety‑eight free kicks in Serie A wearing the Juventus shirt, scoring only once, while Pjanic and Paulo Dybala were among the most consistent set‑piece scorers. On March 3, 2019, in the Napoli‑Juventus match, Pjanic scored the decisive goal at 0‑1.

Pjanic recalled that, during that game in Naples, he scored from a free kick despite Ronaldo’s presence in the squad, showing that Allegri’s trick could truly make a difference. The episode was also reported by, which shared the video on Twitter on October 4, 2026.

The story reignited the debate on how top‑level stars are managed on the field, with coaches and executives considering whether to resort to similar stratagems. The discussion remains open, fueled by Pjanic’s testimony and fans’ reactions.