Cristiano Ronaldo deserves a proper Portugal farewell, says Miralem Pjanic

Miralem Pjanic says Cristiano Ronaldo deserves a fitting end to his Portugal career and believes the forward’s current situation with the national team is “a little sad”.

Speaking at a sports festival in Toronto, the former Barcelona midfielder said Ronaldo remained one of the greatest players in football history and should be given a farewell worthy of his achievements.

Pjanic said there was no reason to blame either Portugal manager or Ronaldo for the disagreement over the captain’s role within the team.

“He does not think only about his age, but also about how he sees himself,” said the Bosnia and Herzegovina midfielder. “He is always competitive and always wants to play. That may not fit with the manager’s thinking.”

Pjanic believes the contrast between Ronaldo’s desire to compete and the coaching staff’s view of his involvement could explain the current situation.

He hopes Ronaldo and Portugal can reach an agreement in the coming period, allowing the Portugal captain to bring his international career to a suitable conclusion.

“I hope Cristiano and Portugal find a solution,” Pjanic said. “Cristiano is one of the greatest players and deserves a proper farewell with Portugal.”