Fernando Santos has insisted former Manchester United superstar Cristiano Ronaldo did not ask to leave the Portugal camp after being dropped for their eye-catching win over Switzerland.
Ronaldo, 37, started all three Group H games at the 2022 Qatar World Cup. But, with last-16 progression on the line at the Lusail Stadium on Tuesday night, he was surprisingly omitted by Santos after venting his frustrations at being substituted during their previous World Cup outing against South Korea.
Adding insult to injury for Ronaldo, his replacement in the team - Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos - scored a brilliant hat-trick as Portugal clocked up a statement 6-1 win to book their place in the quarter-finals. Next up for his country is a last-8 showdown with Morocco tomorrow afternoon.
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Santos was, naturally, pressed on Ronaldo during his pre-match press conference for the Morocco game. He said: "He has never told me he wanted to leave our national team.
"It's high time we stop with this conversation, stop the controversies. It's high time for you to leave Ronaldo alone, in acknowledgment for what he's done for Portuguese football."
Santos added: "I spoke to him after lunch on the day of the [Switzerland] game and invited him into my office. For obvious reasons, Cristiano was not very happy about it as he has always been the starting player.
"He told me; 'Do you really think it's a good idea'? But we had a normal conversation and during which I explained my viewpoint and of course he accepted them. We had a frank and normal conversation."
Ronaldo left United for the second time last month following his explosive interview with Piers Morgan. He will be available on a free transfer during the January window.
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