Cristiano Ronaldo’s time at Portugal’s national team looked numbered after the Qatar World Cup. And it looked so as Ronaldo was dropped from the starting line-ups after the initial group stages.
It was one of the most turbulent periods in the player’s life. Furthermore, after the player left the English club Manchester United, many questioned the player’s ability. They asked whether or not the player was capable enough to handle big tournaments anymore.
Cristiano Ronaldo joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr after his failed stint at Manchester United. But fans believed it was the end of his international soccer career after an unsuccessful World Cup in Qatar as well. However, many fans were surprised when the soccer player was included in the Portugal squad by the new manager.
38-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo and 40-year-old Pepe have been included in Portugal’s latest squad for their upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers 🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/NQtGEWDWvC
— B/R Football (@brfootball) May 29, 2023
Roberto Martinez, however, has revealed his thought process while selecting the team. The coach shared, “The initial point was how do you make those decisions?
“At that point, I understand there are a lot of feeling at a World Cup with a national team. I experienced that myself with Belgium and there’s a big aftermath after a tournament. There’s a lot of debate and a lot of inquisition into every player’s moment in their career.
“I felt that it was impossible for me to make decisions in an office, what’s important is that football decisions need to be made on a football pitch.”
Moreover, Martinez left his office to meet with the players to get a better understanding of the players. It is his conversation with Cristiano Ronaldo that convinced him that the player was still an important player in the Portugal squad.
Roberto Martinez met Cristiano Ronaldo to solidify his decision about the player’s future at the National team
During the initial six weeks, Martinez embarked on an extensive journey. He met the players from the five top leagues in Europe, as well as Saudi Arabia. This allowed him to gain valuable insights into the individuals behind the footballers.
The coach revealed, “I met all the players and in that, you see what it means to play football and where they are in their careers. For Cristiano, he wasn’t ready to step away.
“He was ready and wanting to be a part of the new cycle and at that point, it was very easy to include him into the March camp and then you can make a football decision.
25 days till the GOAT returns in Portugal colours. ⏳😍 pic.twitter.com/Wzt0vlr4hg
— TCR. (@TeamCRonaldo) May 23, 2023
“He scored four goals, he was a real leader, a captain, and someone who brings an experience that no other player has in world football. He’s someone who can reach 200 caps for your country and someone who needs to be used in your dressing room.”
Furthermore, fueled by the faith shown in him by Roberto Martinez, Ronaldo will continue to make his mark on the international stage