Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri backs Christian Ronaldo to find his form again and break his scoring block after an international break.
Three games and zero goals. It hasn't been a smooth transition to Serie A for the former Real Madrid star, who has failed to score for his new club after arriving this summer from Real Madrid in a 100 million-euro move.
Juve saw off Verona and Lazio in their opening two games of the season, and despite another victory on Saturday that saw the Italian outfit beat Parma 2-1, Ronaldo was still left waiting for his first goal at the club.
Although the five-time Ballon d'Or winner has tallied 23 shots without scoring, eight more than any other player who has yet to score in one of Europe's top five leagues, Allegri is not worried and insists Ronaldo needs time to adjust to life in Serie A.
"Italian football presents different problems, and it takes time," he said. "He's not getting the rub of the green at the moment either - the ball is not bouncing right for him, or he's shooting just off target.
"We'll all be fresher after the break, and that's when the real season starts."
Cristiano Ronaldo won 26 trophies in his career, including five league titles, five UEFA Champions League titles and one UEFA European Championship. /Image Reuters
Cristiano Ronaldo won 26 trophies in his career, including five league titles, five UEFA Champions League titles and one UEFA European Championship. /Image Reuters
In the past, the 33-year old has never had a problem settling into a new club. He scored in each of his first five games for Real in 2009 after joining from Manchester United, and he continued his form through his career in Spain, netting 18 goals in his last 10 La Liga matches.
But Allegri suggests this is down to a change in league not character, insisting that Serie A presents different issues to a player who has only played in Portugal, Spain and England previously.
"Serie A is a league where the teams defend carefully," he added. "I don't want to say that it's better than other leagues in Europe or not. Let's just say that the teams are very strong in defense and the coaches are very good.
"They study every match to try not to concede space to the other teams. Everyone puts Serie A down, but it's very difficult for a player to score 40 goals a season. [Gonzalo] Higuain did it once but was an extraordinary feat.
"Usually the top scorer in Italy scores 26 or 27 goals. And usually, the top scorer in Italy never wins the title. So maybe it's better for us."
The five-time Champions League titleholder, who has been rested from the latest Portugal squad, has a goal record of 450 goals in 438 games for Real means it is unlikely the Italian outfit will have to wait too long to see the fruits of their signing.
And Juve fans will be hoping its sooner rather than later as they attempt to win the Champions League for the first time since 1996.
Juventus have been drawn in a group with Ronaldo's former side United as well as Valencia and Young Boys in the Champions League. Their European adventure begins at the Mestalla when they visit Valencia on September 19.