Cristiano Ronaldo has seemingly refused to learn from his controversial Manchester United exit. The 41-year-old made the shock decision to drop out of the Portugal squad, but the team’s reaction has shown that history could soon repeat itself.
Ronaldo’s Reaction to Benching
The global icon was left reeling after remaining on the bench during his country’s 2-1 win over Norway last week, which saw AC Milan striker Goncalo Ramos step up as the match-winner. Ronaldo, who has scored a phenomenal 146 goals in 236 caps, responded by leaving the team and issuing a message on social media.
He wrote on Instagram: “In time, I will tell all the Portuguese the truth about the reasons that motivated me to leave the national team, to which I always devoted myself. Now is the time to wish Portugal and all my teammates good luck, without exception.”
Similarities to United Fallout
The appointment of new manager Jorge Jesus could have potentially prolonged Ronaldo’s key role in the side, given the pair had worked together at Al-Nassr. However, the 72-year-old stood firm on using Ronaldo sparingly, with the situation reminiscent of the forward’s fallout with United boss Erik ten Hag, which led the club to terminate Ronaldo’s contract in November 2022.
In an explosive interview with Piers Morgan, Ronaldo said of his then-manager: "I don't have respect for him because he doesn't show respect for me. If you don't have respect for me, I'm never gonna have respect for you." The striker also claimed to feel he was being pushed out of United, adding: “Yes, I feel betrayed and I feel that some people don't want me here, not only this year but last year, too."
Impact on Club and Country
The interview coincided with the Premier League's pause for the 2022 World Cup. The United squad and Ten Hag learned the interview had taken place following their win over Fulham before the extended break, with the timing reportedly upsetting his United teammates. Ronaldo’s exit and move to Al Nassr proved to be the best decision for all parties. United rallied to clinch the Carabao Cup in February 2023 and finished third in the league. For Ronaldo, a move to the Saudi Pro League allowed him to extend his career away from the physical demands of the Premier League.
United’s over-reliance on Ronaldo had previously been a constant source of debate the previous season before becoming a bit-part player. His outburst against new boss Ten Hag brought the star forward’s second United stint to an abrupt end, mirroring the situation he now finds himself in with Portugal.
Portugal Thriving Without Ronaldo
The national team, who next host Norway on Sunday, quickly proved that Ronaldo is no longer integral to their talented squad, recording a 4-2 win over Denmark in Copenhagen on Thursday. Both Joao Felix and Ramos got on the scoresheet as the forwards were allowed to step out of Ronaldo’s looming shadow. After seeing his side continue their perfect start in the Nations League, Portugal boss Jesus said: “Because they have so much individual quality, things come more easily. If you think this means having the group under control, then I have the group under control. They're all going hand in hand with me on my ideas.”
PSG star Vitinha insisted that Portugal are continuing to improve without Ronaldo, highlighting the forward’s declining importance to the national team. “We are growing, and the truth is, the more we work with the manager, the more we assimilate his ideas,” Vitinha told TVI Noticias. “We took a step forward in attack.” It is an unnecessary situation that could have been avoided for the Euro 2016 winner, much like his unceremonious exit from United. Ronaldo’s glittering international career deserves a more celebrated end, but he has not learned from those past mistakes.
