Bernardo Silva has revealed that Portugal stars only found out about Cristiano Ronaldo being dropped from the starting XI at the World Cup just two hours before kick-off.
In a decision that Silva claims ‘was not strange’, Ronaldo was left out of a Portugal major tournament game that wasn’t a dead rubber for the first time since Euro 2004 ahead of their last-16 clash against Switzerland in Qatar.
Ronaldo has been capped 194 times ahead of the game, scoring 118 goals, yet his off-colour performances in Qatar led to him being subbed in their final group stage loss at the hands of South Korea, leading to a row with boss Fernando Santos.
Cristiano Ronaldo was dropped for Portugal’s World Cup last-16 clash with Switzerland
Ronaldo’s exclusion was the first time he had been dropped in a crucial game since Euro 2004
Silva admits that while there was much speculation about Ronaldo’s inclusion ahead of the last-16 game, they only found out a couple of hours before kick-off.
‘But we only found out about the team in the locker room when we arrived at the stadium, two hours before the game
Bernardo Silva though claims his exclusion was no shock to the Portugal squad in Qatar
‘There are 26 players, too many for the coach to choose for each specific game. It never shocks me that he decides to go with one or the other. Right or wrong in the opinion of each one, the coach has the right to make the decisions he makes.’
Ronaldo was replaced by Goncalo Ramos, who went on to score a hat-trick in his place during the 6-1 win over Switzerland, with Ronaldo coming on later in the second half.
However, despite Ramos keeping his place for the quarter-final against Morocco, they slumped to a shock 1-0 defeat – with Ronaldo unable to turn the game around after coming on again as a second half substitute.
Ronaldo had already endured a spat with Fernando Santos during the competition
The 37-year-old’s tournament was already disrupted having mutually terminated his contract with Manchester United at the start of the competition.
Since then the veteran has joined Al-Nassr in an incredible £175milllion-a-year deal to play in Saudi Arabia.
Ronaldo could make his debut for Al-Nassr against Al Ta’ee on Thursday, as previously reported by Sportsmail after the 37-year-old flew to the country for a medical.
The veteran forward has since signed for Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr for £175million
His arrival could coincide with another clash with management though, as Al-Nassr coach Rudi Garcia claimed to report that he ‘tried to sign’ Ronaldo’s arch-nemesis Lionel Messi before signing the Portugal star.
Excited Saudi fans chanted his name and queued to buy No 7 replica shirts from the club shop ahead of his hotly-anticipated arrival into Saudi Arabian football.
However, he might still be in line for a return to the Premier League with a ‘reported contract clause that allows him to join Newcastle on loan should they reach the Champions League.’
SOURCE: dailymail.co.uk
