After claiming that Cristiano Ronaldo threatened to abandon Portugal’s World Cup camp after being dropped before of his team’s knockout match against Switzerland, the Portuguese publication Record said it stands by its sources.
Ronaldo was put on the bench for Portugal’s 6-1 thrashing of Switzerland in the last 16 on Tuesday, with his replacement, 21-year-old Benfica sensation Goncalo Ramos, scoring a hat-trick in his absence.
According to reports in the Portuguese camp, Ronaldo threatened to leave the World Cup squad after being pulled from the first team and having a “heated” altercation with manager Fernando Santos.
However, the Portuguese FA swiftly issued a vehement denial of the charges, claiming that the superstar footballer was not involved “builds up a unique track record every day at the service of the national team and the country, which must be respected and which attests to the unquestionable degree of commitment to the national team”.
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But Record has retaliated and reaffirmed its accusations that Ronaldo brought up quitting Qatar in what it called the Portuguese captain’s “outburst” prior to the Switzerland encounter.
The 37-year-old did not “walk from door to door saying that he wanted to go,” it was stated, nevertheless.
Instead, the publication claimed that Ronaldo threatened to leave Santos before quickly rescinding the threat, and that by the time kickoff in the crucial last 16 match arrived, he had accepted his decision.
It continued that Ronaldo has allegedly caused a lot of friction within the Portugal team, not least because Ricky Regufe, who has been described as having “excessive influence” over Ronaldo since he started working with the athlete in 2018, has reportedly become an unofficial member of the Portugal staff.
According to Record, the Portugal team “does not comprehend the purpose” for Regufe’s involvement in the camp. Others are alleged to have questioned Regufe’s relationship with Ronaldo and the team.
Ronaldo’s ability to bring a guest into the camp, a privilege not given to any other team member, is said to be another cause of internal conflict.
All eyes will be on Ronaldo and manager Santos when the starting lineups are announced an hour or so before kickoff of Portugal’s quarterfinal match against Morocco on Saturday.
