Portugal head coach Fernando Santos did not like how Cristiano Ronaldo behaved when leaving their match against South Korea.
Speaking at a press conference (via the Guardian), he refused to comment on whether the attacker would captain the side in their knockout tie against Switzerland.
Santos substituted Ronaldo in the 65th minute against Korea. The 37-year-old walked off angrily and put his finger to his lips. However, he claimed the motion was for opposition striker Cho Gue-sung who asked him to speed up his exit.
It is not the first time that he has exhibited immature behaviour. When Erik Ten Hag tried to bring him on against Tottenham Hotspur earlier this season, he refused and went down the tunnel.
Asked about Ronaldo’s substitution at a press conference, Santos said: “Have I seen the images? Yes, I didn’t like it, not at all.
“I didn’t like it. I really didn’t like it. But from that moment onwards everything is finished regarding that issue.
“These matters are resolved behind closed doors. It’s resolved. Full stop on this matter and now everyone is focused on tomorrow’s match.”
Santos refused to confirm if Ronaldo would captain Portugal against Switzerland.
“I only decide who will be captain when I reach the stadium,” the 68-year-old added.
“I still don’t know what the line-up will be. That’s what I’ve always done and that’s what I’m always going to do and it’s going to be the same tomorrow. The other topic is solved. We have fixed that in-house and that’s it.”
This incident is just one of many recent petulant acts by Ronaldo. The former Real Madrid and Juventus attacker pushed aggressively for a move away from Manchester United all summer.
His antics culminated in scathing interviews against the club and Ten Hag. United severed ties with the player, terminating his contract in a mutual decision.
Ronaldo is a free agent with a mega offer from Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr on the table. However, according to Piers Morgan, he has reportedly not agreed to the proposal.
