"Cristiano really is injured" - Roberto Martínez delivers concerning news ahead of the World Cup
The head coach of Portugal holds Ronaldo in high esteem.
Details: On the eve of tomorrow's friendly match against the USA, Portugal national team head coach Roberto Martínez responded to a journalist’s question about the potential retirement of the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo.
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Martínez refrained from making any concrete predictions, instead admitting that, despite his age, Ronaldo remains one of the cornerstones of his squad:
"It's hard for me to say. I learned very quickly not to make predictions about the future when it comes to Cristiano. He has such an elite mentality: he strives to be the best today. If you ask him, he’ll say the same. He doesn’t make long-term plans.
"It’s true, he has a soft tissue injury. Most likely, he’ll be able to return to team training next week. It’s not a serious issue.
"Cristiano is our captain. He’s incredibly influential and important. We won the Nations League with him. His role in our squad is vital: he makes the decisive moves in the box, poses a constant threat to the opposition’s goal, and knows how to finish attacks.
"His attitude is truly inspiring. He lives every day as if it were his last, always looking to improve. You never know when the end will come." Martínez said.
Tomorrow, Portugal will face the USA, and on April 6 they will play another friendly against Chile.
Kenley Ward
Dailysports's expert
