Never thought of Portugal’s resignation
Record player and goalscorer Cristiano Ronaldo has said he never considered retiring from the Portuguese national team. “I feel like I’m at the Seleção for the first time. I love playing for the Seleção,” said the 38-year-old at a press conference in Lisbon on Wednesday. “I’m very happy that the new coach and staff believe I can continue to help. This is my home and I feel very comfortable here.” And: “I will always come to the Seleção if I think they are counting on me.” The new national coach Roberto Martínez gave him this feeling.
As a result of difficult months at Manchester United and a World Cup in Qatar, which was also disappointing for him personally, there were doubts about Ronaldo’s future in the national team. The attacker now plays for Al-Nassr, but Martínez nominated him for the European Championship qualifiers against Liechtenstein on Thursday and three days later in Luxembourg. “It’s true, that was a less than good period in my career,” Ronaldo said of his departure from Manchester and the tournament.
“But I’m grateful for having experienced some difficulties. Not just as a player, but also as a person. I’m a better person now,” said the veteran, who returned to his former place of work from Juventus Turin in 2021 for 17 million euros, but overall was never able to build on his first heyday.
Ronaldo Highest Paid Sportsman In The World – Believes in Saudi Pro League perspective
After the inglorious departure from the “Red Devils” and the reserve role for Portugal in Qatar, the five-time world footballer signed a contract for two and a half years in Saudi Arabia. According to media reports, Ronaldo should get the equivalent of around 200 million euros per season, including advertising revenue. Taking into account his advertising revenue, he is considered the highest paid athlete in the world.
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Ronaldo has been extremely positive about his new employer and the Saudi Pro League. “The Saudi league is very competitive. It’s not the Premier League, I won’t lie, but it’s a league that surprised me in a positive way,” he said (quoted via Fabrizio Romano). “In five, six, seven years if they go ahead with the plan it will be fourth, fifth league in the world.”
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