Cristiano Ronaldo’s girlfriend is unhappy that he was benched in the last World Cup match and was only allowed to play briefly in the game.
After Tuesday’s Portugal VS. Switzerland match, model Georgina Rodriguez expressed her frustration on social media about her boyfriend’s benching.
Daily Mail reported, “The model, 28, was pitch side in Qatar and still looked glum even as the footballer’s side won 6-1 without him – as Ronaldo, 37, looked frustrated while sat on the bench.”
The 28-year-old shared a few images from the match on her Instagram account and raged that she didn’t enjoy the game because Cristiano was benched by the coach for a good 90 minutes.
“Congratulations Portugal! While the 11 players sang the anthem all targets on you,” her caption read.
“What a shame we didn’t get to enjoy the best player in the world for 90 minutes. The fans haven’t stopped claiming you and screaming your name.”
Rodriguez then mentioned Portugal coach Fernando Santos and added,
“I hope God and your dear friend Fernando hold hands and make us vibrate one more night.”
Santos benched Ronaldo from opening the match against the Swiss team and replaced him with 21-year-old Goncalo Ramos, who proved to be a revelation and scored a hat-trick.
Team Portugal owned the match despite Ronaldo’s absence for the most part, and they defeated Switzerland by 6-1.
The 37-year-old came to play in the match for the last 17 minutes but didn’t score any goals.
According to Daily Mail, “Ronaldo cut an isolated figure after Portugal’s stunning 6-1 victory over Switzerland on Tuesday night as he walked off the pitch while his team-mates continued to celebrate their stunning performance on the field.”
“The Portuguese captain made his own way to the dressing room following the game, having been dropped by coach Fernando Santos.”
This was the first time Ronaldo failed to start a Portugal match since Euro 2008.
Coach Fernando made this decision after his “unhappy reaction to being substituted in the 65th minute of the final group match against South Korea,” per Fox Sports.
“I didn’t like it, not at all,” Santos said Monday. “I really didn’t like it. We dealt with this internally. From that moment onwards, everything is finished — full-stop on that issue. It is solved, we fixed it, and that’s it.”
He added in his statement, “I will only decide who is going to be the captain when I reach the stadium. I don’t know the lineup. That’s what I always do. What I have always done is focus on the immediate match. I am not worried if one report is right or wrong.”
Santos also said although he has a very close relationship with Cristiano, the disciplinary matter needs to be taken care of in a rather tactical and strategic way.
“I have a very close relationship with him; I always have. I’ve known him since he was 19 at Sporting, and then he started to develop in the national squad when I arrived in 2014. Ronaldo and I never misinterpret the human and personal aspect with that of manager and player. I will always consider that he is a very important player to have in the team.
“This [disciplinary matter] is something that is finished and solved, it is also important to look at the example of this player’s history. He is one of the best players in the world and therefore all we have to do is come [together] collectively.”
What are views on Coach Fernando’s decision? Let us know in the comments.
Sources: Fox Sports – Daily Mail – Instagram – ESPN
