Tempers between Ronaldo and South Korean striker Gue-Sung Cho flared after he was substituted.
Cristiano gestures as he leaves the pitch after being substituted during Portugal’s 2022 World Cup group stage match against South Korea. Portugal coach Fernando Santos refused to confirm the forward will captain the next match.
When asked if Cristiano Ronaldo will captain Portugal in their round of 16 against Switzerland on Tuesday, Santos said he was not “deeply impressed” by the striker’s behavior as he left the pitch after the game against South Korea.
Santos said that he would not give Ronaldo (37) a guarantee for that role. The head coach said Ronaldo’s latest outburst has been dealt with and the matter is now closed.
After being sent off midway through the second half of Friday’s loss to South Korea, Ronaldo was understandably upset. As he walked off the pitch, he pressed his index finger to his lips in apparent irritation at opposition striker Gue-Sung Cho’s request to hurry up.
“Right before they were substituted, one of their players shouted at me: ‘Leave quickly,'” Ronaldo said after the match. “I told him to shut up, he has no authority, he doesn’t have to say anything.
Santos was asked about Ronaldo’s replacement during the press conference.
“Have I seen the pictures? Yeah, I didn’t like it, not at all. I didn’t like it. I really didn’t like it. But from that moment on it was all over in that matter. These things are dealt with behind closed doors. That’s settled. Point on this issue and now everyone is focused on tomorrow’s match.”
Fernando Santos did not say whether Cristiano Ronaldo will lead Portugal as captain.
I just decide who will be the captain when I get to the stadium,” said Santos. “I still don’t know what the composition will be. That’s what I’ve always done and that’s what I’ll always do and it will be the same tomorrow. The second issue has been resolved. We fixed it in-house and that’s it.”
Ronaldo’s goal against Ghana in the opening match of Group H made him the first player to score in five consecutive World Cups. Since leaving Manchester United, he is a free agent. According to reports, the Saudi Arabian club Al Nasr made him a very attractive offer. Ronaldo has been formally offered to sign a contract until 2025 with an annual salary of almost €200m (£173m).
