“Now he has an ego the size of the world”
Former Sporting CP manager Manuel Jose has accused Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo of being selfish and greedy for money.
Ronaldo saw his influence in the Portugal national team wane during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Then-Seleca Head coach Fernando Santos kept the striker on the bench, particularly in the side’s knockout games.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has now been reinstated into the starting XI by new coach Roberto Martinez. He marked the start of the Spaniard’s tenure by conceding braces in Portugal’s final UEFA Euro 2024 qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Luxembourg.
However, Jose thinks Martinez should let Cristiano Ronaldo see his declining quality. The former Sporting executive also claimed that the Al-Nassr superstar has forgotten his roots. He said Record (via One Football):
“The manager has to have character and personality so that he recognizes a few things: first his age, then that he’s representing a country and wearing a country’s jersey and what value it has, and then he has to set an example of humility.
“It’s impressive, but Cristiano has forgotten his origins.”
Jose continued to target Ronaldo by saying he was greedy. The Portuguese tactician added that he agrees with Bruno Fernandes who refutes the striker’s ‘fresh air’ claim about the national team, saying:
“He doesn’t know how to end his career. It’s money and more money. ‘Fresh air’ would be if they took Ronaldo out of the national team. He’s bad with Fernando Santos, with his colleagues and with the Portuguese dazed.”
“He has a dollar sign in each eye and Bruno Fernandes just told the truth and put him in his place.”
The 76-year-old continued to criticize Cristiano Ronaldo for his ego, saying:
“Ronaldo will go down in history as the greatest or one of the greatest goalscorers in world football. Nobody can take that away from you. Now he has an ego the size of the world and only thinks about himself.”
“On the field it’s him, then him, then him again. He only thinks about himself and nobody else. He still hasn’t understood how old he is, that he’s playing in a fringe league and that he’s not the Ronaldo he used to be.”
Although Jose has suggested Ronaldo should retire from international football, the 38-year-old has yet to show any signs of doing so.
Cristiano Ronaldo is happy to start his life under Roberto Martinez
Cristiano Ronaldo returned in style with Portugal, scoring four goals in two games during this month’s international break. After the win against Luxembourg, he expressed his joy at the start on Twitter Seleca made and wrote under Roberto Martinez:
“2 games, 2 wins! Goal achieved. We are pleased to have contributed to this very positive start of our selection. Let’s go!”
The former Real Madrid superstar will be hoping to continue his goalscoring form when Portugal return against Bosnia and Herzegovina in June.