Cristiano Ronaldo’s drop in Portugal is ‘not a surprise’ Man City star Bernardo Silva has claimed, revealing the players learned of the 37-year-old’s World Cup last-16 exclusion just two hours before the kick-off
- Cristiano Ronaldo has been released by Portugal ahead of the clash with Switzerland
- It comes after a severely disrupted tournament for the forward in Qatar
- He started the World Cup by both ending his contract with Man Utd
- But then he also fell out with manager Fernando Santos after being subbed
Bernardo Silva has revealed that Portugal stars only found out about Cristiano Ronaldo being dropped from the starting XI at the World Cup just two hours before kick-off.
In a decision that Silva claimed was ‘not unusual’, Ronaldo was left out of a Portugal major tournament game that was not a dead rubber for the first time since Euro 2004 ahead of their last-16 clash against Switzerland in Qatar.
Ronaldo was capped 194 times before the knockout clash, scoring 118 goals, but his lackluster performance in Qatar led to him being subbed in their final group stage defeat at the hands of of South Korea, which led to a row with boss Fernando Santos.
Cristiano Ronaldo has been dropped for Portugal’s World Cup last-16 clash with Switzerland
Ronaldo’s exclusion is the first time he has been removed for an important game since Euro 2004
Silva admitted that while there was much speculation about Ronaldo’s inclusion ahead of the last-16 game, they only found out hours before kick-off.
‘Between us we talked and asked “can we, can’t we?”, because players talk,’ he told the Record.
‘But we only found out about the team in the locker room when we arrived at the stadium, two hours before the game.
Although Bernardo Silva said his exclusion did not come as a surprise to the Portugal team in Qatar
‘There are 26 players, too many for the coach to choose for each specific game. It doesn’t surprise me that he decided to go with one or the other. Whether it’s right or wrong in everyone’s opinion, the coach has the right to make the decisions he makes.’
Ronaldo was replaced by Goncalo Ramos, who went on to score a hat-trick in his place in a 6–1 win over Switzerland, with Ronaldo coming on in the second half.
His axing for the Swiss clash led to reports that Ronaldo threatened to walk out of Portugal’s camp, although this was denied by the country’s FA.
Despite Ramos keeping his place for the quarter-final against Morocco, they fell to a shock 1-0 defeat, with Ronaldo unable to turn the game around after coming on as a second-half substitute. He was then seen leaving the pitch in tears.
Ronaldo had a heated exchange with Fernando Santos during the World Cup after he fell
The 37-year-old’s tournament was interrupted when his Manchester United contract was mutually terminated at the start of the competition.
The veteran has since joined Al-Nassr in an incredible £175million-a-year deal to play in Saudi Arabia.
Ronaldo could make his debut for Al-Nassr against Al Ta’ee on Thursday, as previously reported by Sportsmail, after the 37-year-old flew to the country for a medical.
The veteran forward has signed for Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr for £175million
His arrival could coincide with another management clash, as Al-Nassr coach Rudi Garcia said he ‘tried to sign’ Ronaldo’s nemesis Lionel Messi before signing the Portugal star.
Excited Saudi fans chanted his name and lined up to buy No 7 replica shirts from the club shop ahead of his expected arrival in Saudi Arabian football.
However, he could still be in line for a return to the Premier League with a reported contract clause allowing him to join Newcastle on loan should they reach the Champions League.
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