CRISTIANO RONALDO was reportedly absent from Portugal’s latest World Cup training session.
The Portugal legend was dropped from Fernando Santos’ side that beat Switzerland 6-1 to progress through the quarter-finals.
Santos then had his substitutes out the day after to do a light session, but according to Marca, Ronaldo was not involved.
It is the latest twist in the forward’s dramatic World Cup campaign, which started by leaving Manchester United.
Ronaldo mutually walked out following his explosive interview with The Sun’s Piers Morgan, in which he criticised the club and Erik ten Hag.
The ex-Real Madrid and Juventus man then found himself on the end of Santos’ wrath for his reaction to being subbed against South Korea.
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And he was subsequently dropped against Switzerland with his replacement Goncalo Ramos going on to score a hat-trick.
It leaves Ronaldo’s place in Portugal’s quarter-final side that faces Morocco on Saturday in doubt.
Manager Santos said: “That is still something that has to be defined.
“I have a very close relationship with him – I always have, I have known him since he was 19 years old.
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“This relationship only develops, Ronaldo and I never interpret the human aspect of that of manager and player (in relation to) what we have to do during the match.
“I will always consider in my role that he is an important player to have in the team.”
Asked directly if Ronaldo would play against Morocco, Santos replied: “Ronaldo will definitely (be involved), all the players on the bench can be used, if they are not in the starting line-up they can play later.
“It is important to look at the example of this player’s history, he is one of the best players in the world at playing professionally, being captain – all we have to do is think about this team collectively.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
