Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez congratulated captain Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of his team’s UEFA Euro 2024 clash with Bosnia and Herzegovina on Saturday.
Martinez said Ronaldo, who currently plays for Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr, is an example of Portuguese in world football. He said this when asked if Ronaldo playing outside of Europe could be a problem for Portugal’s national team.
However, Martine rejected the accusation, saying (via Record Portugal): “Playing outside of Europe is sometimes an advantage for playing in one country. We have three ways to evaluate a player: individual quality, experience and commitment.
“Cristiano’s belief is total. It is an example for the locker room, an example for Portuguese and world football.
“He played 198 games for the national team and that’s normal. Like any other player, he needs to train well to play. We want a high performance and competitive environment for our players. Cristiano and Pepe are examples for football and we want them to give young people all the experience and wisdom.
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