The Portugal coach, Roberto Martínez, confirmed this Wednesday that at the moment he does not see the national team without Cristiano Ronaldo, assuring that the striker is still focused on contributing to the national team.
In statements for the English channel Talksport regarding the upcoming FIFA date, Martínez made it clear that Cristiano Ronaldo is not yet ready to give up Portugal because in his words the moments he lived in the Qatar 2022 World Cup made him want a new cycle.
“Cristiano was not prepared to leave the national team. He wanted to be part of the new cycle and, from there, it was easy to include him in the March squad and only then make a decision on the pitch”, said the Spanish coach.
In addition, Martínez declared that the Al-Nassr forward continues with his goal-scoring nose intact and that he gave his leadership sample in the last call where he scored four goals in two games.
“He is someone who brings experience that no other player in world football has. He is someone who can reach 200 international matches and who you have to know how to use in the dressing room, ”he stressed.
Cristiano Ronaldo has once again headed the list released this week by Roberto Martínez for Portugal’s next qualifying matches for Euro 2024.
First, they will receive the Bosnian team in Lisbon on June 17, and then they will travel to Reykjavik to face the Icelandic team on June 20.