António Salvador aims Cristiano Ronaldo: “He was the captain and abandons”

“ Ckristiano Ronaldo is a legend of Portuguese football, is the best player ever and will always be remembered as the best player ever. Now, the attitude that Cristiano Ronaldo had, I understand that was not the best attitude ", said António Salvador, in statements to Lusa, this Saturday night in Toronto.

The Brazilian leader stressed that he was unaware of the reasons behind the decision of the Portuguese international, but criticized Ronaldo's choice of leaving the internship as captain of the national team.

“It was the captain and abandoned the selection. I don't know why I'm not on it. Now, I think it was not a well reflected attitude”, he said.

António Salvador considered that Cristiano Ronaldo, 41 years old, probably would not now make the same decision, admitting that the exit was decided in the heat of the moment.

“ I think maybe at this point, Cristiano Ronaldo probably wouldn't make that decision. It was perhaps a hot decision”, he sustained.

On Wednesday, the captain of the Portuguese national team abandoned, by his own decision, the internship of Portugal in Copenhagen, shortly after being a dominant theme in the press conference of the selector Jorge Jesus.

The previous Sunday in Oslo, Cristiano Ronaldo did not leave the bank in front of Norway, despite having been warming up for much of the second part, and abandoned the unsatisfied lawn after the final whistle, having failed the following trainings.

On social networks, the advanced confirmed that he spoke with the president of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), Pedro Proença, before leaving the internship and promised that “in due time” he will tell “the truth to all the Portuguese about the reasons that motivated” the decision.

The FPF confirmed the exit of the player, without further explanation, at a time when Cristiano Ronaldo adds the world record of 234 internationalizations and 146 goals by the main Portuguese selection.

Portugal won Euro2016 and the Leagues of Nations 2019 and 2025.

António Salvador argued that the priority must now go through the concentration of selection in sports goals.

“What is important right now is the total focus of the selection in working to achieve the goals in which it is inserted, is to win the games,” he said.

The president of Sporting Braga also expressed confidence in Jorge Jesus, highlighting the knowledge he has of the current selector and the ability he recognizes to lead the national team.

“ I know him very well, I know very well what he is able to do for the selection, where he is able to take this selection and I believe very much in the work, I believe very much in the leadership of Jorge Jesus ", stressed.

António Salvador also highlighted the three victories achieved in the first three meetings under the command of Jorge Jesus and considered it a priority to overcome the next commitment at the Dragon Stadium.

Asked by Lusa about whether Portugal is stronger in this new phase, the leader preferred to highlight the leadership change and the style of the selector.

“It’s a new era, a new leadership, a leadership that has a style very typical of your coach, who decides what he thinks is best for the selection,” he said.

For António Salvador, the Portuguese must support the options of Jorge Jesus and the players who represent the national team.

“ The Portuguese and Portugal have to support this decision, they have to support our selector and support all the players who are in our selection so that we can be focused, so that they can win the games that are ahead ", concluded.

The Portuguese team, currently holding the League of Nations, leads Group A4 with nine points, against three from Norway, Wales and Denmark.

Portugal-Norway is scheduled for 19:45 at the Dragon Stadium.