- 17 hours ago
Ronaldo REFUSES to train with Portugal substitutes
Carlo Garganese
- Updated: 23 May 2023 09:00 CDT
- 4 min read
Cristiano Ronaldo has caused yet more controversy at the World Cup after he allegedly refused to train with Portugal’s substitutes, according to Marca.
Ronaldo was dropped by Portugal manager Fernando Santos for the last-16 win over Switzerland on Tuesday following an act of petulance when being substituted in the previous game versus South Korea.
Cristiano was furious to be taken off for the third successive game at the World Cup against Korea. He raised his finger to his lips in order to make a “quiet” gesture, sending an apparent message to his coach Santos.
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Santos slammed Ronaldo in his pre-match press conference before the Switzerland game and then proceeded to drop him for that match.
Portugal played their best game of the tournament, winning 6-1 as Ronaldo’s replacement Goncalo Ramos scored a hat-trick.
Cristiano did come on as a late substitute but sparked controversy when he refused to celebrate with his teammates after the game, instead storming straight down the tunnel.
Ronaldo refuses to train
And Marca now claims that the following day Ronaldo decided not to train with the rest of Portugal’s substitutes.
Those who started the win over Switzerland took part in a lighter session, while the subs and unused squad players took part in a heavier session.
Ronaldo opted not to train with the subs and instead trained with the starters.
It remains to be seen whether he was given special permission to do this, but it again suggests that Ronaldo has been given or demanded special treatment.
Ronaldo’s family also hit out at the decision to drop him against Switzerland.
What did Ronaldo's sister say?
His sister Katie Aveiro posted in two Instagram messages: “I asked him so much to leave… Without looking back. No more fighting. No more suffering.
“He lowered his head, he thought about how much he has already done and how much he has achieved… and he stayed.
“I really wanted him to come home, leave the national team and sit next to us so we could hug him and tell him that everything is fine, remind him of what he’s achieved and where he came from, I really wanted him not to go on anymore, we’ve suffered enough.”
Portugal play Morocco in the quarter-finals later this week.
