Juventus put faith and resources into Andrea Pirlo's vision but it's still the Cristiano Ronaldo show

Despite missing Juventus’ last five games after testing positive for COVID-19, the Portuguese needed just three minutes off the bench to match his team-mate’s tally for the season, and a further 17 to surpass it.

‘Well done, Alvaro. But I’ll be stepping back into that spotlight now, thanks.’

That spotlight may as well be a Bat Signal. Juventus were in a spot of bother against newly-promoted Spezia, drawing 1-1 by the break and struggling to gain the upper hand.

Summoning a five-time Ballon d’Or winner off the bench for a rescue act was the obvious move and Ronaldo was only too happy to deliver. Morata, the scorer of the opener, played in the 35-year-old who rounded the keeper to hand his side the lead.

His mere presence on the pitch seemed to lift the team, and disarm the opposition. Once Adrien Rabiot extended the lead, Ronaldo converted a penalty won by Federico Chiesa with a Panenka finish to truly underline his return.

Just like that, a potential upset was transformed into a convincing victory. Not all heroes wear capes.

And if Ronaldo is Batman in this scenario, then Andrea Pirlo is Commissioner Gordon, but in a suave and far more expensive suit.

Characteristically contained on the touchline, any internal dilemmas he wrestled with were put to bed once his star man answered his call for help. Just as well, because by half-time the vultures were circling overhead, ready to swoop in should Juventus have failed to win for the fourth time in five games.

Having sacked Maurizio Sarri after he won the Serie A title last season, the Italian giants invested heavily in Pirlo, a club icon but ultimately a novice manager. The Architect has been afforded the resources to build his masterpiece but merely laying the foundations is proving trickier than anticipated.

Juventus have spent significant funds during a pandemic to acquire the likes of Arthur, Weston McKennie, Dejan Kulusevski, Morata and Chiesa. The manager has even tried to promote from within with youngsters like Gianluca Frabotta, Giacomo Vrioni and Manolo Portanova afforded opportunities. However, attempts to rejuvenate an aging squad has also run the risk of instability within it.

Meanwhile, Pirlo has tried to articulate his side’s struggles recently by identifying their need to find players between the lines and explaining his attempts to simplify operations in the defensive phase. He’s optimistic that, in time, the work in training will reflect on matchday.

It’s predictable that an artist like Pirlo would embark on a quest for some elusive perfect formula but it’s a results business and experimentation can only be conducted for so long. In Ronaldo, though, he has a trump card and he would do well to play it liberally.

More Ronaldo equals more success. Another midfielder maestro turned first-time manager at a major European powerhouse reaped the rewards. If it worked for Zinedine Zidane, it can work for Pirlo.

How sustainable is it to make a 35-year-old the centre piece of your team? Well, this is no ordinary aging forward. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, four years Ronaldo’s senior is proof that the modern footballer can not only be competitive but even dominate while approaching 40. And as difficult as it is to conceive, the Portuguese may be an even better physical specimen than the Milan striker.

So give him centre stage, a generous spotlight, an accommodating supporting cast and only subtle direction.

Then, sit back and allow him to do the rest. It’s the Cristiano Ronaldo show.