Portugal Manager Roberto Martinez Sends Shock Message to Cristiano Ronaldo: “Can CR7 Play?”
In a move that has left football fans around the world stunned, Portugal’s new national team manager Roberto Martinez has reportedly delivered a surprising message to legendary striker Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of the team’s opening game at Euro 2024.
According to sources close to the Portugal camp, Martinez approached Ronaldo earlier this week and bluntly asked: “Can you play in our opening match?”
The 38-year-old superstar, who is gearing up for potentially his last major international tournament, is said to have been taken aback by the manager’s candid question.
“Cristiano was surprised, to say the least,” an insider revealed. “He’s been training hard and is fully fit and ready to go. The question from Martinez seemed to come out of nowhere.”
Ronaldo, who is Portugal’s all-time leading goalscorer and one of the greatest players of his generation, has been a mainstay in the national team for well over a decade. His inclusion in the starting lineup for the Euro 2024 opener was widely assumed to be a foregone conclusion.
However, Martinez’s apparent uncertainty over Ronaldo’s availability has sparked speculation that the former Everton and Belgium boss may be considering a more radical approach to Portugal’s lineup and tactics for the tournament.
“Roberto Martinez is clearly not afraid to make big calls,” commented Portuguese football expert Joao Silva. “Questioning Cristiano Ronaldo’s place in the team, even at this late stage, shows he’s willing to shake things up and do what he believes is best for the team, regardless of reputations.”
With Portugal’s opening match against group rivals Germany just days away, all eyes will be on the team’s training sessions and lineup announcement to see how Martinez has chosen to utilize his superstar captain.
Ronaldo, for his part, is said to be fully focused on the task at hand and determined to lead Portugal to glory in what could be his final major international tournament.
“Cristiano is as motivated as ever,” the insider added. “He’s not about to let anyone, even the manager, question his ability to perform on the biggest stage. I’m sure he’ll be ready to go when the whistle blows.”
As the football world waits with bated breath to see how this intriguing situation unfolds, one thing is clear: Cristiano Ronaldo’s future at Euro 2024 is no longer a foregone conclusion.a
