Cristiano Ronaldo‘s second stint at Manchester United may have been short-lived, but it seems to have been a transformative experience for the Portuguese superstar. Despite finishing as the team’s top scorer in the 2021-22 season, Ronaldo struggled for minutes under new manager Erik ten Hag, leading to his departure from Old Trafford in November. However, according to recent interviews with the player, his time back at the club has left him feeling “a better man”, having confronted some of the painful memories and unresolved issues from his first spell at United. While his time in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr may be a new challenge altogether, Ronaldo’s renewed personal growth is sure to help him face any adversity that comes his way.
Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo has expressed his growing perspective on life at a recent press conference ahead of Portugal’s imminent Euro 2024 qualifiers. Ronaldo believes that it’s necessary to go through some hard times to identify who stands with you, as recently experienced. The star striker maintained that while he’s had his fair share of lows, there’s no point in dwelling on regrets but to keep pushing forward. Ronaldo highlighted that when one is at the peak, it’s not easy to appreciate what lies below, and this experience has taught him invaluable lessons. The 38-year-old is optimistic about his growth and is confident in stating that the challenging last few months have made him a better man.
The 2022 World Cup was a bit of a mixed bag for Cristiano Ronaldo. After leaving United but before joining Al-Nassr, he was part of Santos’ Portugal squad, starting the tournament with a crucial goal in a win over Ghana. However, by the time the knockout rounds came around, he had lost his place and failed to find the net as Portugal crashed out in the quarter-finals against Morocco. There were concerns that Ronaldo’s international career might be coming to an end, but these were dismissed by former Belgium boss Martinez who confirmed that the veteran was still very much part of his plans. “Cristiano Ronaldo is a very committed player. He can bring experience and is a very important figure for the team. I don’t look at age,” Martinez said, putting to rest any doubts about Ronaldo’s future with the national team.
Newly appointed Portugal manager and former Everton boss has made it clear that he believes football decisions should be made on the field of play. He emphasizes the importance of communication with his players and getting to know them personally to better prepare them for upcoming games. This approach will be put to the test as Portugal kicks off their qualifying campaign for Euro 2024, facing Liechtenstein and Luxembourg in back-to-back games. With tough competition ahead in the form of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, and Slovakia, every decision will be crucial to securing a spot in the tournament proper in Germany.
