Cristiano Ronaldo: Portugal ‘handled his situation badly’, says Walid Regragui

Walid Regragui says Cristiano Ronaldo’s difficult situation with Portugal could have been managed differently, arguing that “everything was clumsy” as the forward’s international career appears to be approaching its end.

Ronaldo endured a tense period during the most recent international break and left Portugal’s training camp without warning. The incident followed reported tensions with the national team’s head coach and could accelerate the end of the former Real Madrid and Manchester United player’s international career.

Regragui, the former Morocco head coach, believes Portugal failed to handle the situation properly and says Ronaldo deserved a direct conversation.

“Many Portuguese players and Portuguese football owe the status they have enjoyed to Ronaldo,” Regragui said on Canal Football Club. “That does not give him the right to do everything. But I think everything was clumsy at the end.

“I think he was someone they should have spoken to. In addition, the coach had worked with him at his club, Al Nassr. I think they shot themselves in the foot, and that is a shame.”

Ronaldo’s position has become the subject of increased attention after the events of the latest international window, although the 40-year-old has not announced any decision to retire from international football.

Regragui also compared the way Ronaldo has been treated in Portugal with the status Lionel Messi holds in Argentina, suggesting the Portuguese forward has not received the same level of acceptance from supporters and players.

“What bothers me about the Ronaldo situation is that this would never have happened in Argentina,” he said. “The way Argentinians and the players revere Messi, and what I felt, is something the Portuguese have never had for Ronaldo.

“Argentinians accepted it with Messi, even at the last World Cup. In Portugal, I have the impression they never accepted it.”

Messi has announced his retirement from international football. Despite the speculation surrounding Ronaldo after the latest events, the Al Nassr forward has yet to make an official announcement on his own future with Portugal.