Juventus shares plunge after Champions League exit

MILAN – Shares in Italian club Juventus fell more than 17 percent in early trading on Wednesday after Cristiano Ronaldo's side were knocked out of the Champions League quarterfinals by Ajax.

Juventus shares were down 17.7 percent at 1.39 euros at 0730 GMT after plunging nearly 21 percent when trading in Milan began.

Shares in the Turin-based club had risen sharply last year following the signing of Ronaldo from Real Madrid.

A young Ajax team stunned Juventus to reach the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 1997 as Matthijs de Ligt's second-half header secured a 2-1 second-leg victory in Italy on Tuesday.

The defeat halted Ronaldo's bid for a sixth Champions League title.