Portugal coach Santos unhappy with Cristiano Ronaldo; CR7 might lose captaincy

Tempers flared between Ronaldo and South Korea striker Cho Gue-sung after he was subbed.

Cristiano Ronaldo motioned as he walked off the field after being substituted during Portugal's match against South Korea in the FIFA World Cup 2022 group stages. Portugal coach Fernando Santos refused to confirm that the striker would be captain in the next game. When asked if Cristiano Ronaldo would captain Portugal in their Round of 16 match against Switzerland on Tuesday, Santos said he was "deeply unimpressed" with the forward's behavior as he left the pitch after the game against South Korea.

Santos said, he would not give Ronaldo, 37, a guarantee of the role. The head coach claimed Ronaldo's latest outburst has been dealt with and the matter is now closed.

After being taken out of Friday's loss to South Korea midway through the second half, Ronaldo was understandably upset. As he walked off the field, he pressed his index finger to his lips in apparent irritation at the request of opposing striker Cho Gue-sung that he hurry up.

"Immediately prior to being replaced, one of their players yelled at me, "leave quickly,” Ronaldo said after the match. “I told him to shut up, he has no authority, he doesn’t have to say anything.”

Santos was asked about Ronaldo's substitution during a press conference.

“Have I seen the images? Yes, I didn’t like it, not at all. I didn’t like it. I really didn’t like it. But from that moment onwards everything is finished regarding that issue. These matters are resolved behind closed doors. It’s resolved. Full stop on this matter and now everyone is focused on tomorrow’s match.”

Fernando Santos would not say whether Cristiano Ronaldo would lead Portugal as captain.

I only decide who is going to be captain when I reach the stadium,” Santos said. “I still don’t know what the lineup will be. That’s what I’ve always done and that’s what I’m always going to do and it’s going to be the same tomorrow. The other topic is solved. We have fixed that in-house and that’s it.”

The goal Ronaldo scored against Ghana in their opening Group H match made him the first player to score in five consecutive World Cups. Since leaving Manchester United, he is a free agent. According to reports, Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr have made him a very attractive offer. It has been formally proposed to Ronaldo that he sign a contract until 2025 at an annual salary of nearly €200m (£173m).