Massimiliano Allegri believes Cristiano Ronaldo deserves to win the Ballon D’Or, following media reports that the forward has not been short-listed for the award’s final three for the first time since 2010.
The Portugal international has won the prize, run by French magazine France Football and awarded to the world’s best player annually, five times and finished as runner-up five times since 2007.
Media have reported that the podium for this year’s prize would be made up of Paris St Germain’s Kylian Mbappe and Luka Modric and Raphael Varane of Real Madrid.
The winner would be named at a ceremony in Paris on December 3.
“He is doing well and yesterday he trained well. For what he has done, as I’ve said several times, he will deserve the Ballon D’Or,” Allegri said.
Allegri shot down suggestions that his side were facing an injury crisis in midfield ahead of the visit of SPAL in Serie A on Saturday.
Sami Khedira and Emre Can were sidelined with injuries, but their absence does not concern the coach.
“We will need to play with who we have on the ground.
“Blaise Matuidi returned today because he needed a few days of rest.
