Former Juventus football chief Luciano Moggi says he's a fan of Cristiano Ronaldo - though also insists the veteran must accept the criticism that has come his way.

Moggi was reflecting on Ronaldo's hat-trick for victory over Cagliari just days after Juve's poor Champions League elimination at the hands of Porto.

He told Libero: "Ronaldo, considered by all to be the scapegoat, wanted to show that he is a champion not to be criticised. After each goal against Cagliari he considered it appropriate to put his finger to his ear to make the critics understand that they are wrong.

"Cristiano, he must not be angry if someone turns up his nose because he opened up the wall from which the 2-2 that gave the qualification to Porto was born: to err is human.

"I was against his purchase, only for the great financial burden that required for him to come to Turin at the age of 34. Now it would be unfair not to recognise his class, but people must also consider themselves entitled to be able to contest matches in which he only attended.

"We must be able to say that with him on the pitch Juventus has won the same titles they won when CR7 was in Madrid. Before him they made the final, now they're eliminated in the round of 16."