Shanghai
Cristiano Ronaldo’s move from Real Madrid has seen Juventus’s popularity rocket in China, up nearly 70 per cent by one measure, as top European clubs vie for supremacy in the Asian country.

The Portuguese forward has made his presence felt on the pitch, netting 17 goals in 22 Serie A games to put Juventus well on course to retain their Italian league title.
Ronaldo, who cost Juventus about 110 million euros last summer, was at it again at the weekend, scoring twice before the Turin side were held 3-3 at home by Parma.

Off the pitch, the Portuguesewho turned 34 on Tuesday has made a similarly emphatic impact in China, the world’s second-biggest economy and home to a growing number of football supporters.

That popularity has held, Juventus say, its number of followers on Weibo jumping 68.5 per cent between July and December last year a surge in interest that appears undiminished by a police investigation into the star launched last year.

“Ronaldo’s success in China is not simply connected to his performance on the pitch and achievements over the years.“Players have a stronger influence on fans than teams.

“As a matter of fact, fans online have become increasingly interested in individuals, as players have almost 30 per cent more combined followers than their clubs.”

Juventus’s gain was Real’s loss in China, which along with the United States is a key overseas market for European football clubs.

Real may have won the Champions League again, but they suffered a net reduction of about 8,000 followers after Ronaldo’s departure, said a recent report by Shanghai-based digital marketing firm Mailman.