Former Chelsea midfielder Craig Burley has urged Portugal to move on from Cristiano Ronaldo amid the controversy surrounding the striker’s decision to leave the national team.
Cristiano Ronaldo decided to walk out of the Portugal camp last week after reportedly feeling betrayed by head coach Jorge Jesus. Since the shock decision, Portugal have won both their UEFA Nations League games against Denmark and Norway.
Thanks for the submission!
Goncalo Ramos scored in both the games after replacing the five-time Ballon d’Or winner as the striker in the Portugal line-up. Jesus has left the door open for the 41-year-old star to return to the national team, with the Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proenca also echoing the same thought.
But Burley believes Cristiano Ronaldo is ‘finished’ being the main man for Portugal. He warned Jesus that his future as head coach will be determined by results and not by whether he handled this situation in the right manner.
Speaking on ESPN, Burley stated:
“[He is] for the most part, finished in elite club football because he’s playing in Saudi Arabia and nobody gives a stuff [about it], and he’s certainly finished in terms of being the key man for Portugal.
“And whether we agree [on] whether Jorge Jesus handles it rightly or not, the right thing to do is for Portugal to move on. And Jesus will be, like Roberto Martinez was, and Fernando Santos was, would be judged on results.”
The former Scotland international also sent a message to the Portugal fans. Burley believes that anyone who thinks it is not time for the national team to move on from their star man must take their blindfolds off before forming an opinion.
He added:
“At the end of the day, if the Portuguese people can’t see that the best thing for Portuguese football and the national team is to move on, as certainly as a starting eleven without Cristiano Ronaldo, then they’ve got blindfolds on.”
Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to return to action on October 9, when Al-Nassr face Diriyah in the Saudi Pro League.
Cristiano Ronaldo promised fans to reveal truth about walking away from Portugal camp
Shortly after jetting out of the Portugal national team camp in Copenhagen, Cristiano Ronaldo issued a statement. The star forward stated that the truth behind his shock decision will be made public to his fans.
He wrote:
“After the press conference of the National Team coach, and following a conversation with the President of the Portuguese Football Federation, I decided to leave the National Team camp.
“In due time, I will tell all the Portuguese about the reasons that motivated my departure from the national team, which I always dedicated myself to.
“Now it’s time to wish good luck to Portugal and all my teammates, without exception.”
Fans are still waiting to hear from their idol. Portugal are reportedly planning to hold talks with the player to urge him to return. It remains to be seen if he makes a U-turn on his decision.
Edited by Nived Zenith