“Cristiano Ronaldo Is Old” – Roberto Martinez on Al Nassr Star’s Future With Portugal

Since his move to Al Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo has defied the expectations of everyone. His goal-scoring form for the club has also helped him regain his place on the national team under Roberto Martinez. However, the NT’s head coach recently expressed quite an eye-opening response to a long-term question about CR7. The comments are certainly a surprise considering the relationship between the duo.

In the last two years, after his Manchester United stint, CR7 has reminded the fans of the old times with his goal exploits. His 54-goal year in 2023 has made several fans forget that he is 38 years old. In an interview, he was asked whether he would be ready to manage the veteran for the next 10 years. He said while laughing, “I think Cristiano Ronaldo is old.” The Portuguese coach most likely meant it to be a joke. It is quite unrealistic to expect the 5x Ballon d’Or to keep playing for the next decade.

Regarding his future with the NT, there is a huge possibility that Cristiano Ronaldo will be playing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. According to reports, he remains in active negotiations to also extend his contract with Al Nassr till 2026. The Saudi giants also previously expressed their desire to have the Portuguese star extend his stay in the cash-rich league till the end of his playing career.

As far as the national team is concerned, his only focus will be on Euro 2024. But as far as Roberto Martinez and his future squad planning is concerned, he is already planning for the future, keeping in mind the risk of CR7 calling it a day anytime in the next few years.

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It looks like Roberto Martinez is preparing to have a first team with both experienced players and also youngsters. One example is his constant trust in Goncalo Ramos. Despite the poor form with PSG in front of the goal, the 50-year-old has pointed out that he backs the goal-scoring ability of the youngster. The head coach even praised his fighting spirit.

He even added that Cristiano Ronaldo and Goncalo Ramos can play together as ‘two spearheads’ and they both have different strengths. “I think Cristiano’s movement in the final third is top quality. Gonçalo Ramos also has an innate quality of looking for space in the area”, Martinez concluded.

Do you think Portugal will go all the way in the 2024 Euro? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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