Fernando Santos slams Cristiano Ronaldo for substitution reaction at 2022 World Cup, could lose Portugal captaincy

Portugal manager Fernando Santos has slammed forward Cristiano Ronaldo for his reaction to being taken off against South Korea – and didn’t confirm if the 37-year-old would keep the captaincy.

Asked about Ronaldo’s reaction at his press conference on Monday, Santos was clearly not amused.

“Have I seen the images?” Santos said.

“But from that moment onwards everything is finished regarding that issue. These matters are resolved behind closed doors. It’s resolved. Full stop on this matter and now everyone is focused on tomorrow’s match.”

Santos was asked whether or not Ronaldo would stay as the captain of the team.

“I only decide who is going to be captain when I reach the stadium,” he replied.

“I still don’t know what the line-up will be. That’s what I’ve always done and that’s what I’m always going to do and it’s going to be the same tomorrow. The other topic is solved. We have fixed that in-house and that’s it.”

For his part Ronaldo has come to his own defence, saying that he was directing the gesture at the opposition, not his manager.

“Before my substitution, one of their players was telling me to leave quickly,” Ronaldo said. “I told him to shut up, he has no authority, he doesn’t have to say anything.”

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