Portugal, Roberto Martinez former Belgium coach

The upper levels of the Portuguese federation should have definitively turned on the choice of the next coach. Nothing José Mourinho, the national coach will be Roberto Martinez, former coach of Belgium fresh from elimination in the group stage in the last World Cup. The Telegraph is sure of it. Martinez, who will turn fifty next July, is close to taking the place of Fernando Santos, who left the national team after eight years of honest service after Qatar. And a European won.

AND RONALDO?

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The road seems to be traced. And Martinez, once he takes office in Lisbon, will immediately have to put his head on Cristiano Ronaldo. The 7, record holder of goals and appearances for Portugal, chose Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia after a life in Europe. After winning everything with United, Real Madrid and Juve, he opted for a record salary of two hundred million per season, also becoming an ambassador for Arabia. The last World Cup of his career ended in the quarterfinals, Morocco ahead and him with his head down, in tears, straight to the locker room, alone, without teammates. Martinez will have to assess the situation. Ronaldo is four games from 200 caps for his country, won the 2016 European Championship and scored 118 goals, but in February Ronaldo will celebrate 38 years. Will Martinez bet on him also in his new cycle? Meanwhile, as the Portuguese media also report, Cristiano has no intention of leaving the national team. Despite the various records, he still has something to give.

HISTORY

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Net of the Ronaldo problem, the Spanish coach is close to a new challenge. His palmares boasts a historic FA Cup won with Wigan in 2013 and a third place at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, not counting a diploma in business administration. With the Red Devils he boasts 56 wins, 13 draws and 11 defeats in 80 benches. He led De Bruyne and his companions – the famous golden generation, completed by Lukaku, Mertens, Vertonghen, the Hazard brothers and many others – from 2016 to 2022. He boasts 70% at the helm of the national team. Martinez will also find Leao, MVP of the last Serie A and driving force at Milan. He who knows how he will go to Lisbon.