'Sometimes dreams come true' - Deschamps hails Juventus' Ronaldo signing

Former Juventus midfielder and manager Didier Deschamps has hailed the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo as a 'dream come true' and believes that the new arrival can help the team win the Champions League.

Deschamps won three Serie A titles during his time as a midfielder with the club between 1994 and 1999, and later returned to coach them in Serie B following their relegation after the 2006 Italian match-fixing scandal. 

He was part of the last Juventus side to lift the Champions League back in 1995-96, reaching the final twice in the next two years. They have not tasted European success since, but Deschamps believes Massimiliano Allegri's side can triumph once again, particularly after the arrival of five-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo.

"Dreams are part of life," Deschamps told Gazzetta dello Sport. "Maybe the fans had not dreamed of Ronaldo, who then arrived. Sometimes dreams come true.

"Juve today are back at the top in Italy and Europe. Winning the Champions League is like winning a World Cup.

"Indeed, at the beginning, in the Champions League you have even more contenders, those seven, eight teams that can legitimately aspire to go all the way.

"Allegri's team is as competitive as the one I played in."

Juventus went close to winning the Champions League twice in the last five seasons, reaching the final in 2015 and 2017. Barcelona defeated them 3-1 in Berlin in 2015 to take the crown before suffering a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Real Madrid in Cardiff two years later.

Last season they only reached the quarter-final despite a dominant domestic season where Allegri guided Juventus to a record 34th Serie A title as well as their 13th Coppa Italia.

Allegri is determined to improve this season, adding Ronaldo during the summer as well as defender Joao Cancelo and midfielder Emre Can, with centre-back Leonardo Bonucci returning to Juventus Stadium after a season at AC Milan.

They have started the season brilliantly, winning all eight of their league games so far, as well as two wins from two in the Champions League with victories over Valencia and Young Boys. Next up in Europe is an away game against Manchester United on October 23, where Ronaldo will return to his former home, Old Trafford.