CRISTIANO RONALDO is one of NINE Portugal stars who are yet to acknowledge Fernando Santos’ sacking following the early World Cup exit.
Euro 2016 winner Santos, 68, lost his job following Portugal’s World Cup quarter-final defeat to Morocco.
Portugal lost the game 1-0 thanks to a goal by Sevilla ace Youssef En-Nesyri.
The striker jumped over 9ft in the air to power the Africans to history – becoming the first country from the continent to reach the last four.
Portugal’s early exit also came as 819 career-goal Ronaldo was dropped to the substitutes bench.
Underwhelming group stage performances, which saw Ronaldo score just one goal from the penalty spot, resulted in Santos dropping the free agent for Goncalo Ramos.
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Benfica ace Ramos, 21, then scored a hat-trick in the 6-1 last 16 win over Switzerland.
And since Santos’ sacking on Thursday, Ronaldo is one of NINE Portugal stars who are yet to acknowledge the legendary manager’s departure.
Portuguese outlets Record and A Bola have extensively documented the divide among the squad.
Diogo Costa, Jose Sa, Diogo Dalot, Antonio Silva, Joao Palhinha, Ruben Neves, Ricardo Horta and Rafael Leao are also yet to speak out.
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Bruno Fernandes, however, has thanked Santos for his service.
He said: “Many thanks to mister Fernando Santos. Thank you for the opportunity to represent our country and for the trust in us the past few years.
“As a Portuguese, thank you for putting Portugal at the top of Europe and returning confidence and belief to a ‘small’ country that it was possible to be among the ‘big ones’.
“Moments of glory and joy and others of sadness and frustration, but history was made and will forever be marked in the hearts of all Portuguese.”
Ronaldo’s girlfriend, Georgina Rodriguez, hit out at Santos after the Morocco defeat, for which she was present in Qatar.
She wrote on Instagram: “Today your friend and coach decided wrong.
“That friend for whom you have so many words of admiration and respect.
“The same one who, by getting you into the game, saw how everything changed, but it was too late.
“You cannot underestimate the best player in the world, his most powerful weapon.
“Nor can you stick up for someone who doesn’t deserve it. Life teaches us lessons. Today we have not lost, we have learned.”
Ronaldo’s attention now turns towards finding a new club.
The 37-year-old had his Manchester United contract ripped up following his bombshell interview on TalkTV with SunSport columnist Piers Morgan.
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In explosive revelations, Ronaldo slammed United for betrayal and admitted he doesn’t respect boss Erik ten Hag.
He is currently training at former club Real Madrid’s training complex – but away from Carlo Ancelotti and his squad.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
