Bernardo Silva has revealed Portugal players were not shocked to learn Cristiano Ronaldo would not start the World Cup round of 16 game against Switzerland.
For the first time since 2004, Cristiano Ronaldo, the all-time highest goal-scorer for Portugal, was benched in a major tournament.
The Selecao topped their group and set up a round of 16 clash with fellow European sides Switzerland. Ronaldo was benched by the former Portugal manager Fernandez Santos.
Portugal ended up smashing the Swiss 6-1 in a thrilling encounter which saw Cristiano Ronaldo replacement Goncalo Ramos bagged a hat-trick for the team.
The move by Fernandez Santos to bench the former Manchester United forward made the headlines, drawing a parallel with his travail at Old Trafford.
Meanwhile, glimmers of hope for the beleguered Manchester legend faded after he scored Portugal’s first goal in the 2022 World Cup.
After the goal, Cristiano Ronaldo never find the back of the net again in the tournament and was subbed off in Portugal’s last group game against South Korea.
He appeared furious after his number was up for substitution, and was benched in the next game against Switzerland.
According to Bernardo Silva, the decision by Santos to bench Cristiano Ronaldo during the game against Switzerland did not come to the players as a shock although they learnt of the decision just two hours before the game.
‘Between us we talked and asked “could it be, would it not be?”, because the players talk”, he said.
‘But we only found out about the team in the locker room when we arrived at the stadium, two hours before the game.
‘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 made a record 194 appearances for Portugal, scoring 118 goals to emerge as the team’s highest goal-scorer. He also became the first player to score in five World Cup tournaments.
Portugal proceeded to the quarterfinals where they were knocked out by Morocco, with Ronaldo furiously leaving the pitch in tears after the exit.
Cristiano Ronaldo is now an Al-Nassr player. He has joined the club on a two-and-a-half-year deal, and is set to earn a whooping £173million yearly untill 2025.
Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr as a free agent after he mutually agreed to a contract termination with Manchester United following his controversial interview with Piers Morgan.
He joined Portugal World Cup squad in November after the Red Devils had ended his two-year deal, with 7 months reamaining.
After the World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo trained at Real Madrid’s facility, while hoping for offers, especially from European suitors.
Meanwhile, Al-Nassr was at his beck, submitting a mega two-year contract that will see the Portuguese star earn a whooping £173million every year till 2025.
Ronaldo finally agreed to the contract and jetted into Saudi Arabia for a new threshold in his football career.
He has arrived Saudi Arabia, an there are reports he may likely make his debut for the club on January 5 in a Saudi league game against Al Ta’ee.
