For many people, who have even declared it this way on social networks, Portugal coach Roberto Martínez has lacked the courage to sit Crisitano Ronaldo on the bench during the national team’s matches, even if his results are no longer the same. top. However, when a journalist reproached him about the ability of El Bicho to play for 90 minutes as a starter, especially due to the intensity of the game in the Euro Cup, the coach responded “Cristiano Ronaldo is in the Portugal national team Because it deserves it. He scored 51 goals in 50 games and the physical statistics support that he can play every four days. So, I think you can draw your own conclusions.”
For his part, sports journalist Iñako Díaz Guerra was not afraid to say the opposite, publishing in , writer Lourenço Pereira declared that “Santos came to the conclusion that Ronaldo was not fit to be a starter, because he did not generate danger, in fact, he blocked many movements of his teammates, due to his need to be the center of the game.”
These statements have been diminishing the reputation of the portuguese player, who apparently does not plan to leave the field soon, perhaps not until he surpasses Messi’s records (and not just for likes on social networks). But none of that has been enough, for now, to take away his ownership of the Portugal team, a position in which he is currently playing in the Euro Cup and it will hardly be able to change soon, since it is known that Ronaldo is persistent in the importance of his role and also , we know that his presence on the field mobilizes media coverage, followers in the stadiums and of course, a lot of economic investment for the team. This has been confirmed in statements such as that of Lourenço Pereira, who said “His game may no longer be what it was, and the Saudi league may not be much, but Ronaldo is still decisive economically for the Portuguese federation. Portugal has players very good, like Bernardo Silva or Bruno Fernandes, but they are much less popular and powerful in the media than Ronaldo. The federation knows very well that their bowling and sponsorships would decrease significantly without him. The long-term contract between Nike and Portugal, which expires soon, “It was made with Ronaldo in mind. Nike’s relationship with Portugal has been premium, at the level of Brazil, something unimaginable before Cristiano’s arrival. But, when Ronaldo is gone, it will start to get colder.”
