Portugal manager Roberto Martinez has blasted suggestions that Cristiano Ronaldo should be managed similarly to Lionel Messi or Erling Haaland. Recall that CR7 played the full 90 minutes during Portugal’s 0-0 draw with Colombia, a result that saw the Selecao finish second in Group K.
Stressing that the idea of comparing Ronaldo’s physical needs to those of Messi or Haaland is childish, Martinez maintained that his talisman is mentally and physically capable of leading the line without rest.
Roberto added that his selection process will always be based on individual data rather than outside narratives.
His words, “We don’t compare with other players of other teams.
That would be childish. Cristiano is used to being in the right place at the right time. It’s more a question of mentally being strong and always being disciplined in position and always opening space in our attacking patterns.
It’s not an issue for Cristiano to play 90 minutes, but maybe the next game we need to make a change, but that’s like any other player. We have used 21 outfield players, so we do share the minutes.
Today, we used Joao Neves and Ruben Neves for 45 minutes, we did the same with Diogo Dalot and Joao Cancelo because different positions have different needs.
There are some players who are not at full fitness, but all of the data we collect is very important in helping us make those decisions.”
WOW.
Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro GOIH ComM is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a forward for and captains both Saudi Pro League club, Al Nassr and the Portugal national team.
Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro was born on 5 February 1985 in the São Pedro parish of Funchal, the capital of the Portuguese island of Madeira, and grew up in the nearby parish of Santo António. He is the fourth and youngest child of Maria Dolores dos Santos Viveiros da Aveiro, who worked as a cook in the hospitality industry and a cleaning woman, and José Dinis Aveiro, a municipal gardener at the Junta de Freguesia of Santo António and part-time kit man for football club Andorinha.
Ronaldo’s move to Manchester United was completed on 12 August 2003, too late for the 2003 FA Community Shield but in time for their game against Bolton Wanderers on the opening day of the 2003–04 season, and made him the first Portuguese player to sign for the club.
Ahead of the 2009–10 season, Ronaldo joined Real Madrid for a world record transfer fee at the time of £80 million (€94 million). His contract, which ran until 2015, was worth €11 million per year and contained a €1 billion buy-out clause.
