PORTUGAL striker Cristiano Ronaldo admits going through a difficult period and does not regret his decision to leave Man Utd at the end of 2022.
“Sometimes we have to go through difficult times to see who is with us,” Ronaldo said at the Portuguese team’s press conference on March 22. “I have no hesitation in saying that I had a bad period at Man Utd, but there is no time for regrets in this life. Everything happens for a reason and is part of my growth. I feel like I’m better prepared now because I can see some things. I’m a better person now.”
At the beginning of the 2022-2023 season, Ronaldo lost his starting position at Man Utd and scored only three goals. The 38-year-old striker had many conflicts with the new coach Erik ten Hag, including refusing to enter the field in the last minutes and leaving early in the match against Tottenham.
Just before joining the Portuguese team for the 2022 World Cup, Ronaldo publicly criticized Ten Hag and Man Utd in a 90-minute conversation on Piers Morgan Uncensored . More than a week later, he and the Old Trafford owner agreed to terminate the contract half a year early. Ronaldo then accepted the invitation to Saudi Arabia, joining Al Nassr club on a two-year contract with a salary of about 75 million USD per season.
“When we stand at the top of a mountain, we often don’t see what’s below,” he added. “I haven’t experienced anything like it in the past few months. But the important thing is that I’ve learned a lot now.”
In the 2022 World Cup, Ronaldo was not allowed to start after Portugal passed the group stage. In the quarterfinals, his team lost 0-1 to Morocco. Ronaldo sobbed as he left the field, as it was probably his last World Cup.
However, the new coach Roberto Martinez still considers Ronaldo part of the plan towards Euro 2024 and the 2026 World Cup. After replacing former coach Fernando Santos, he went to Saudi Arabia to discuss with Ronaldo about continuing to contribute to the team . team. Since joining Al Nassr after the 2022 World Cup, Ronaldo has scored eight goals in nine games in all competitions.
“All options are laid out after the 2022 World Cup,” Ronaldo said of the possibility of parting the team after the tournament in Qatar. “I spoke to my family and we agreed that it’s not yet time for me to leave the national team. I’ve learned a lot from that and am very happy to be back. Coach Martinez wants me on the team, and I do. I feel like I still have a lot to offer.”
If playing at Jose Alvalade – Sporting’s home ground today, Ronaldo will monopolize the position of the most international player . At the national team level, the Portuguese striker holds the record for scoring 118 goals, and shares the record for the number of matches (196) as Bader Al-Mutawa for Kuwait. “Records are always positive,” Ronaldo said. “That’s my motivation. I love breaking records and this record is special. I would be really proud if it happened, but I want to keep playing more and more and I don’t want to stop yet.”
The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) announced the termination of the contract with coach Santos two years early, five days after losing to Morocco. Under his eight-year reign, his hometown team won the Euro 2016 and Nations League for the first time in 2019. Santos is also the coach with the most games and the most wins in Portuguese history (won 67, drawn 23). and lost 19 matches).
“This is a new chapter for everyone, both the players, the members and the team,” Ronaldo said of the change of coach in the national team. “We feel energized. It’s a breath of fresh air. I’m not saying it’s better or worse than before, but sometimes in life changes are positive. There are new ideas, a new thinking. You can see it. You can feel the change and that’s good for all.”
Today, Portugal started qualifying for Euro 2024 with a match against Liechtenstein on March 23 and then as a guest of Luxembourg on March 26. Portugal’s remaining opponents in Group J are Bosnia, Slovakia and Iceland.
