Juventus manager Andrea Pirlo has explained why he did not call up superstar Cristiano Ronaldo for the club's matchday squad to face Benevento.

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The 35-year-old has been in fine form, scoring eight goals in just five Serie A games to date in this campaign, but missed his side's 1-1 draw with Benevento on Saturday.

However, Pirlo has explained that Ronaldo was given an "agreed rest" and will be back in action this week.

"Cristiano Ronaldo will take an agreed rest session because he was a bit tired after so many games," Pirlo told Juventus TV ahead of the game.

"It was planned that he would not come to Benevento."

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The manager also insisted that his side needs to do better without their main goalscorer after failing to win their third league game that Ronaldo missed in this campaign.

"Ronaldo is a very important player, not only for us,” he explained after the surprising draw against the newly-promoted side, as cited by AS.

"He was for Real Madrid and for previous Juventus.

"This kind of players are game and goals catalysts, but we must win this kind of game with or without Ronaldo. We must improve this side."

Juventus are currently fourth on the log, six points behind leaders AC Milan.

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