Cristiano Ronaldo news: Portugal national football team manager Fernando Santos has insisted that CR7 remains an important player for them, even though he has only had limited playing time at Manchester United this season.
Ronaldo has not had a great start to the 22/23 season. The 37-year-old had missed Man Utd’s pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia for “family reasons”.
Until now he has been a supporting player under Erik ten Hag at Man Utd. Although he has appeared in all eight Man Utd games so far this season, he has only started three games.
The rest of the appearances were from the bench, in the second half of those games.
Cristiano Ronaldo news: CR7 remains important for Portugal national football team, says Fernando Santos
Portugal manager Fernando Santos has insisted he is not worried about Ronaldo’s lack of playing time at Man Utd. Santos said he has to figure out what the situation is with him, but stressed that Ronaldo is still an important player for Portugal.
“I’m not at all worried about Ronaldo’s lack of playing time at Manchester United,” Santos said. “As with any player, I have to find out what the situation is with him.”
He added: “But I don’t think anyone has any doubt that Ronaldo is still of great importance to the national team.”
Portugal resumes its campaign in the UEFA Nations League during the upcoming international break. They will face the Czech Republic in their next match in Group 2 of League A. The match between the two teams will kick off at 12:15 am Indian Standard Time on September 25.
Portugal then faces its neighbors Spain in the Iberian derby. That match kicks off at 12:15 a.m. Indian Standard Time on September 28.
Portugal currently sit second in League A Group 2 with seven points from their first four games. They are one point behind Spain, which leads the group with eight points. Portugal hope to win both matches and secure qualification for the next stage of the competition.
Ronaldo has scored two goals for Portugal in his first four games in this edition of the Nations League. Both goals came during Portugal’s 4-0 victory over Switzerland.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo scored his first goal of the season as Man Utd took on FC Sheriff in the Europa League group stage. Ronaldo had entered the game goalless in his last seven appearances for Man Utd. He scored Man Utd’s second goal of the game to end his goal drought.
