Tag: Cristiano Ronaldo

Manchester United legend, Gary Neville slams Cristiano Ronaldo

Manchester United legend, Gary Neville has fired shots at Cristiano Ronaldo and asked the Portugal captain to stop sulking.

Neville slammed the 37-year-old for what he described as ‘petulant’ behaviour, warning the Saudi-bound footballer that his career is gradually coming to a scruffy end.

This is coming after Ronaldo was dropped to the bench in Portugal’s 6-1 win over Switzerland in the round of 16 at the ongoing 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Ronaldo only came on about 17 minutes to the end of Portugal’s World Cup round of 16 clash on Tuesday.

It was the first first time since Euro 2008 that the former Juventus and Real Madrid man has not started in a major international tournament.

Although manager, Fernando Santos said it was only a strategic approach to the game, the decision may not be unconnected with the 37-year-old’s fallout with the coach.

Ronaldo had fallen out with Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag earlier this season. He also had issues at Juventus.

On Tuesday, Neville provided a brutal assessment of his former Manchester United teammate on ITV. Neville said that when Ronaldo had issues with Erik ten Hag at Manchester United people suggested that the Dutch boss was trying to make a move on the superstar and was trying establish his authority.

“This is a manager [Santos] who’s got an unbelievable relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo for eight years,” he said on ITV.

The former Manchester United captain accused Ronaldo’s fans of failing to tell him the truth, insisting that the 37-year-old needs to listen to the truth, “that it’s becoming a little bit of a scruffy end” to his career.

“The petulance, the stomping around, the sulking it’s got to stop because it doesn’t reflect well on him at all.”

The former England international warned that the Portuguese has set for himself a long term legacy which he has protected as “one of the great all time players.

“The Juventus manager wrong? The Manchester United manager wrong? And now is the Portugal manager wrong? There’s three of them that now have done the same thing with him,” Neville said.

December 7, 2022
Qatar 2022: Portugal coach speaks about relationship with Ronaldo

Portugal gaffer, Fernando Santos has finally cleared the air about relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo concerning the Portugal national team.

Santos spoke after sending the Five times Ballon d or winner to the bench in the round of 16 game where Switzerland were thumped by Portugal 6-1 on Tuesday.

Santos chose to play Benfica striker, Goncalo Ramos, who ended up scoring three goals on the night.

Ramos became the first player to score a hat-trick in the ongoing World Cup in Qatar.

Ronaldo has not been able to add to his tally after his penalty goal against Ghana in the opening game.

Speculation will now naturally turn to whether or not the 21-year-old Benfica man will retain his place in the side for the next game or will Ronaldo return despite his lack of form this season.

Santos was asked about Ronaldo’s role within the team, and he told reporters, “That is still something that has to be defined.

“I have a very close relationship with him – I always have, I have known him since he was 19 years old.

“I will always consider in my role that he is an important player to have in the team.”

December 7, 2022
Ronaldo denies swearing at Portugal coach over substitution

Cristiano Ronaldo has denied he swore at Portugal coach Fernando Santos after being substituted during a dramatic 2-1 defeat to South Korea in the World Cup on Friday.

Both teams had advanced into the next round with the result.

But the Portugal captain said the comments he made as he left the field in the 65th minute were in fact aimed at a South Korean player.

Portuguese media said the former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus player, who left the English club last month, appeared to challenge Santos over the decision to substitute him.

It was reported he used vulgar language towards the coach.

“What happened was before my substitution. The South Korea player told me to get off quickly. I told him to shut up as he doesn’t have that authority.

“There was no disagreement (with the coach),” Ronaldo was quoted as saying by Portuguese reporters.

The 37-year-old is seeking to equal the Portuguese record of most World Cup goals held by Eusebio, who racked up nine in 1966 in England, the only World Cup tournament he played in.

Ronaldo last week became the first ever player to score in five World Cups.

Santos, asked by reporters about the substitution incident, also said a South Korean player had been aggressive in his comments towards the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.

“I saw the interaction with the Korean player and I have no doubts about what happened,” Santos said.

Ronaldo was kept largely at bay by South Korea’s defence in the Asians’ last-gasp victory over Portugal that sent Uruguay out of the World Cup.

But he was involved in the South Korean equaliser in the 27th minute when a corner-kick struck him on the back and fell for Kim Young-gwon to score.

Santos made six changes to the side that beat Uruguay on Monday.

He was perhaps mindful of the risk of yellow card suspensions in the next round for which Portugal had already qualified before kick-off against South Korea.

“We’re unhappy. We wanted to go through with a win, we wanted to go through playing good football to keep boosting our confidence,” Santos said.

“We’re not going to lose confidence. This group has confidence, but it’s a warning, a serious warning. Perhaps some positive things could come from this game.”

He congratulated Paulo Bento, his predecessor as Portugal’s manager who is now in charge of South Korea.

“I’ve just given him a hug. I’m unhappy, he is happy. I didn’t facilitate anything but friends are friends, business aside,” he added.

Portugal, by finishing top of Group H, have avoided Brazil —- the winners of Group G —- in the first knockout round.

December 3, 2022
Portugal vs Uruguay: Fernandes speaks on Ronaldo claiming his goal

Portugal playmaker, Bruno Fernandes has opened up after Cristiano Ronaldo attempted to claim his goal in their World Cup win over Uruguay, insisting the scorer of their first goal “doesn’t matter”.

Fernandes was eventually credited with the goal after replays showed Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t get a touch.

In the 54th minute of the match, Fernandes lofted in a delightful cross. At first, it seemed as if Ronaldo had headed the ball in.

But the goal was officially awarded to his ex-Manchester United teammate.

“It doesn’t matter who scores. Whether it’s me or Cristiano Ronaldo.

“The important thing is to get out of the group. We are in the last 16,” Fernandes told reporters afterwards.

Portugal have now qualified for the knockout stages of the 2022 World Cup after winning their first two group matches.

November 29, 2022
Saudi giants, Al Nassr offers Cristiano Ronaldo £62 million-a-year deal

Portuguese star, Cristiano Ronaldo, has been offered £62 million-a-year deal to join Saudi giants Al Nassr’

Recall that the 37-year-old footballer had his Manchester United contract terminated earlier this month after his controversial statements in a TV interview with Piers Morgan,

Saudi Arabian giants Al Nassr have offered a contract worth £186million over three years to the iconic Portuguese striker, according to a report from CBS Sports.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the monstrous contract is to entice Ronaldo to make the switch to the Middle East, but the player is still evaluating the options available to him in Europe.

Al-Nassr is one of the most successful clubs in Saudi Arabia, having been crowned winners of the country’s top flight nine times, with their most recent triumph coming in 2019.

Ronaldo is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a forward and captains the Portugal national team. He is currently a free agent.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, Ronaldo has won five Ballon d’Or awards[note and four European Golden Shoes, the most by a European player.

He has won 32 trophies in his career, including seven league titles, five UEFA Champions Leagues, and the UEFA European Championship.

Ronaldo holds the records for most appearances goals (140), and assists (42) in the Champions League, goals in the European Championship (14), international goals (118), and international appearances by a European (192).

He is one of the few players to have made over 1,100 professional career appearances, and has scored over 800 official senior career goals for club and country. He is the only male player to score in five World Cup tournaments.

Ronaldo began his senior career with Sporting CP, before signing with Manchester United in 2003, at age 18, winning the FA Cup in his first season.

He would also go on to win three consecutive Premier League titles, the Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup; at age 23, he won his first Ballon d’Or. Ronaldo was the subject of the then-most expensive association football transfer when he signed for Real Madrid in 2009 in a transfer worth €94 million (£80 million), where he won 15 trophies, including two La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey, and four Champions Leagues, and became the club’s all-time top goalscorer.

He won back-to-back Ballons d’Or in 2013 and 2014, and again in 2016 and 2017, and was runner-up three times behind Lionel Messi, his perceived career rival. In 2018, he signed for Juventus in a transfer worth an initial €100 million (£88 million), the most expensive transfer for an Italian club and for a player over 30 years old.

He won two Serie A titles, two Supercoppa Italiana trophies and a Coppa Italia, before returning to Manchester United in 2021. He left in 2022.

Ronaldo made his international debut for Portugal in 2003 at the age of 18 and has since earned over 190 caps, making him Portugal’s most-capped player. With more than 100 goals at international level, he is also the nation’s all-time top goalscorer. Ronaldo has played in and scored at 11 major tournaments; he scored his first international goal at Euro 2004, where he helped Portugal reach the final.

He assumed captaincy of the national team in July 2008. In 2015, Ronaldo was named the best Portuguese player of all time by the Portuguese Football Federation. The following year, he led Portugal to their first major tournament title at Euro 2016, and received the Silver Boot as the second-highest goalscorer of the tournament.

Ronaldo also led them to victory in the inaugural UEFA Nations League in 2019, receiving the top scorer award in the finals, and later received the Golden Boot as top scorer of Euro 2020.

One of the world’s most marketable and famous athletes, Ronaldo was ranked the world’s highest-paid athlete by Forbes in 2016 and 2017 and the world’s most famous athlete by ESPN from 2016 to 2019.

Time included him on their list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2014. He is the first footballer and the third sportsman to earn US$1 billion in his career.

November 27, 2022
Why Man United must pay Ronaldo £10m to leave in January

Manchester United striker, Cristiano Ronaldo, has not featured much for the Red Devils this season and reports from England suggest he would be paid almost £10 million if the club wants to get him off the books during the next transfer window.

Ronaldo seems to have fallen out favour with his manager, Erik ten Hag, as he was axed for Saturday’s trip to Chelsea, where the Red Devils played out a 1-1 draw.

The Dutch tactician took the decision after the 37-year-old refused to come off the substitutes’ bench and subsequently walked off the pitch in last week’s win over Spurs.

The whole incident has cast more doubt on Ronaldo’s future at Old Trafford, despite Ten Hag’s admission that he was missed in the Chelsea draw.

However, if United want to get rid of the Portuguese star before his contract expires at the end of the season, they are staring at a pay-off in eight figures.

Ronaldo is expected to earn around £9.6m in basic wages until June, regardless of any bonus payments for league placings or trophies.

But it is understood Man United have the option of tearing up his deal if he did indeed refuse to come on as a substitute and was deemed to be in breach of contract.

Meanwhile, Ronaldo returned to Man Utd training on Tuesday, October 26, after he was dropped for Saturday’s trip to Stamford Bridge.

Erik ten Hag said Ronaldo is back in United’s matchday squad for Thursday’s Europa League game against Sheriff Tiraspol at Old Trafford, adding that Raphael Varane will be out until after the World Cup.

October 26, 2022
Ronaldo shuts down international retirement talk

Cristiano Ronaldo intends to continue with Portugal until Euro 2024, shutting down any notion this year’s World Cup could be his last major international tournament.

The veteran attacker has struggled for form this season at club level with Manchester United FC, dropped by Erik ten Hag and mostly kept on the sidelines by a positive upturn in results.

But his place in Fernando Santos’ Portugal squad has never been in doubt, with the 37-year-old leading his country in their Nations League matches with the Czech Republic and Spain this week.

Speaking at the Quinas de Ouro awards, where he was feted, Ronaldo revealed his ambitions to remain with the national set-up for another major tournament cycle, taking him through to the age of 39.

“I hope to be a part of the national team for a few more years,” he stated. “I still have the motivation, and my ambition is high.

“My path here is not over. We have many quality youngsters. I will be at the World Cup, and I want to be at the European Championship, too.

“It has been a long road and I want to take the opportunity to say that the road is not over yet. You’ll still have to put up with me for a little while longer,“he said.

Ronaldo’s only major honour at international level came at Euro 2016, albeit he missed most of the final victory over France following an injury.

Portugal will hope for a successful tournament in Qatar, where they are the top-seeded nation in Group H, alongside Uruguay, South Korea and Ghana.

September 21, 2022
SHOCKING! Messi, Neymar snubbed in 2022 Ballon d’Or shortlist [SEE FULL LIST]
Argentina and Paris Saint Germain Football club forward and reigning Ballon d’Or winner, Lionel Messi has surprisingly missed out on the 30-man shortlist for this year’s award following his unimpressive debut season at PSG.

Although his long-time rival, Cristiano Ronaldo made the list for his heroics for Manchester United last season despite the Red Devils’ not too good finish in the English Premier League (EPL).

Meanwhile, hot favourite Karim Benzema has been nominated for the 2022 Ballon d’Or, but there is no place on the list for another PSG superstar Neymar.

However, French forward, Kyllian Mbappe will be representing PSG for his heroics as a striker for the club side last season.

The Ballon D’or Winner will be announced on the 17th of October in Paris.

Below are the 30-man 2022 Ballon d’Or nominees
Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid)

Rafael Leao (AC Milan)

Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig)

Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)

Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)

Vinicius Jnr (Real Madrid)

Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)

Luis Diaz (Liverpool)

Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona)

Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City)

Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)

Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid)

Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)

Luka Modric (Real Madrid)

Erling Haaland (Manchester City)

Dusan Vlahovic (Juventus)

Joao Cancelo (Manchester City)

Kylian Mbappe (PSG)

Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

Casemiro (Real Madrid)

Son Heung-min (Tottenham)

Fabinho (Liverpool)

Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)

Mike Maignan (AC Milan)

Harry Kane (Tottenham)

Darwin Nunez (Liverpool)

Phil Foden (Manchester City)

Sadio Mane (Bayern Munich) (edited)

Sebastian Haller (Borussia Dortmund)
August 12, 2022
Atletico Madrid rule out signing Ronaldo

Atletico Madrid will not be signing Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo and that decision is final, club president Enrique Cerezo said on Friday.

Speaking at the presentation of defender Nahuel Molina, Cerezo said the newly-recruited Argentina international was “the last piece” of the jigsaw.

That means Diego Simeone’s squad is complete as far as Cerezo is concerned.

Molina has joined from Udinese, and Atletico Madrid have also brought in the likes of Samuel Lino and Axel Witsel to plump up their ranks.

This was after Luis Suarez, Sime Vrsaljko and Hector Herrera moved on.

“With this signing…we have managed to fit the last piece we were looking for,” said Cerezo.

“I repeat, for the journalists, with this signing we have managed to fit the last piece we were looking for.”

The emphasis spoke of how Cerezo wants to move on from the links to Ronaldo, after a group of Atletico Madrid supporters declared their steadfast opposition to his potential arrival.

Cerezo had already said any deal to bring Ronaldo to Atletico Madrid from Manchester United was “practically impossible.”

Ronaldo, who is Real Madrid’s all-time record goalscorer, appears to be set on leaving Manchester United after the Red Devils failed to qualify for the 2022/2023 UEFA Champions League.

It has been reported that Sporting Lisbon, Ronaldo’s first major club, could be a possible destination for him after scoring 24 goals across all competitions for Manchester United last season.

German champions Bayern Munich have ruled themselves out of contention.

Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo and his agent Jorge Mendes were at Manchester United’s training ground on Tuesday for talks over his future.

Atletico Madrid will face Manchester United in a pre-season friendly on Saturday, with the 37-year-old Ronaldo unlikely to play any part.

July 29, 2022
Cristiano Ronaldo makes decision on Saudi bumper offer

Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo has turned down an offer from a Saudi Arabian team.

A report in the Portuguese press had stated that Ronaldo was offered up to £105 million per year on a two-year contract by an unnamed club.

However, Record in Portugal now states that Ronaldo has turned down the move.

The attacker has indicated his desire to leave Manchester United, but he wants to remain in a top European league.

The 37-year-old believe he is still good enough to lead the line for a team challenging for league titles and the Champions League.

For their part, United have indicated they are not willing to part with Ronaldo this off-season.

July 15, 2022