Manchester United’s top scorer last season until a mutually agreed departure from the club made him a household name, things have quickly fallen apart for Cristiano Ronaldo.
The journey wasn’t supposed to end this way, especially when one considers the fanfare surrounding his return to the Red Devils and his subsequent second debut.
But after missing pre-season for personal reasons, new coach Erik ten Hag thought his fitness wasn’t up to scratch and sought to build his team in the way he knows best.
A clearly discernible pattern of play emerged, requiring total concentration, hard work, relentless energy and pressure, something Ronaldo is unable to provide considering his age.
His playing time dropped dramatically, and his completion suffered as a result. And the 37-year-old, known for his determined focus on setting new records, has been unable to accept his new reality.
CR7’s fights at United and for Portugal
What followed was entirely avoidable, but the Portuguese thought it the best way to end things. He went on the air to publicly accuse the club and the coach of disrespecting him.
The 20-time English champions had no choice but to agree a mutual termination with Ten Hag, revealing that he can now focus on the future without further distraction.
If the Portuguese international had thought that the World Cup would be his field of redemption, he thought wrong.
After three dismal performances in the group stage, he lost his place to Goncalo Ramos for the round of 16 tie against Switzerland.
????️???????? José Fonte – @BBC: “When Cristiano isn’t there, Portugal plays more as a team and you could tell: they played fluidly, everyone brought, it was nice to see him”.
– Trivela (@Trivela_FR) December 8, 2022
The Benfica striker scored a hat-trick and the team played fantastic football, fluid and the same problems have arisen again.
Reports abounded that Ronaldo threatened to leave the national camp and that he refused to train with the substitutes, instead concentrating on gym work alongside the remaining starters.
His teammate José Fonte, who was unfortunate enough to miss out on playing in the World Cup, believes that Ronaldo’s presence hampers the team as players invariably end up trying to find him at every opportunity. presents.
“Just his presence on the field makes the team players unconsciously and automatically have to play for him, always give him the ball.
“For who he is, for what he has done and for what he is still capable of doing,” said the Euro 2016 champion on the BBC’s daily podcast (via A Bola).
The 38-year-old Lille defender felt that the most important thing for his nation in this World Cup is the fact that they have a great team with both defensive and attacking players in top form.
Fonte says that Ramos deserves to be a starter
And without that added pressure of passing the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, the team showed fluidity and a desire to work for each other.
“When he is not there, Portugal plays more as a team and that was seen. They played smoothly, without a single focal point, everyone contributed and it was beautiful to watch.
“We had success with Cristiano Ronaldo during these years, he was very influential. Gonçalo Ramos offers a different game proposal and he had a perfect night, we are all happy for him. I hope he continues like this ”.
The former Southampton star also opined that Ramos will definitely keep his place for the quarter-final tie against Morocco, despite Ronaldo’s wishes to start.
“How, if the boy scored three goals? You can’t teach a legend like Ronaldo. Ronaldo will always be Ronaldo and for Portugal it is even very positive that a player like him comes off the bench, it will be one more problem to provoke the rivals”.
But the former Real Madrid player doesn’t take being called a substitute very seriously. It remains to be seen how this latest saga starring one of the all-time greats plays out.
