Portugal head coach, Roberto Martinez has revealed why he did not sack Cristiano Ronaldo from the country’s national team despite a row with the immediate past coach.
The former Wigan boss became Portugal manager
following his sack by Belgium after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Martinez was picked as the replacement for
Fernando Santos who was also dismissed following their defeat to Morocco in the
knockout stage.
The manager told talkSPORT why he decided to
keep Ronaldo, who had fallen out with his former manager, Santos, as Portugal
captain.
Speaking on Wednesday, Martinez said:
“The initial point was, how do you make those
decisions? At that point, I understand there are a lot of feelings at a World
Cup with a national team.
“I was appointed on January 9th and had six
weeks with the starting point of meeting every player who was in that list of
26 players in Qatar.
“For Cristiano, he wasn’t ready to step away,
and then you can make a football decision. He scored four goals; he was a real
leader, a captain, and someone who brings an experience that no other player
has in world football, who needs to be used in your dressing room," he said.
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