'Let's leave Cristiano Ronaldo alone': Portugal boss Fernando Santos calls for peace as he insists his star player didn't ask to leave the squad after being benched... though admits the forward wasn't happy during 'normal conversation'

Portugal boss Fernando Santos has called for Cristiano Ronaldo to be left alone after denying reports that the star wanted to leave the squad after being benched for their World Cup victory over Switzerland. 

Ronaldo angrily denied reports from his nation that he wanted to pack up his bags and leave their World Cup camp, upon discovery that he would be a substitute for their 6-1 victory in the last-16. 

Santos, with a World Cup quarter-final on his mind, is keen for the attention surrounding Ronaldo to stop, and that the 37-year-old never expressed any intention of leaving the camp. 

Portugal boss Fernando Santos has called for star player Cristiano Ronaldo to be left 'alone'

Portugal boss Fernando Santos has called for star player Cristiano Ronaldo to be left 'alone'

Portugal head coach Santos denied reports that the star wanted to leave the Portugal squad

Santos and Ronaldo have denied reports that the latter wanted to leave the Portugal squad

In a press conference prior to their clash with Morocco on Saturday, Santos said: 'He never told me he wanted to leave. It's time to finish this and stop. He left the dressing room against Switzerland, warmed up, went out for a run to celebrate the goals with his teammates. 


'He called his teammates to thank them for their effort but he came out and left. He marched alone. Let's leave Cristiano Ronaldo alone.'

Santos, while opening up on when he informed Ronaldo of his decision, insisted they had a 'normal conversation' and could understand why his player was unhappy. 

The manager said: 'He never told me that he was going to leave. He did not tell me. You have to see how his attitude is. He celebrated the goals with his teammates, thanked the fans.

Santos jumped to the defence of the five-time Ballon d'Or winner in a recent press conference

Santos said he and Ronaldo had a 'normal conversation' and admitted the player was unhappy

'I had a conversation with Cristiano Ronaldo. We talked about the Portuguese team but the only conversation I had was before the match against Switzerland to tell him why he was going to be a substitute. 

'I told him that he was not going to start in the Round of 16. He was not happy with the conversation, as is normal. But it was a normal conversation where everyone showed their point of view. 

'When a player is captain of Portugal and starts on the bench, it's normal for him not to be happy. When I told him that I wasn't going to play as a starter, he asked me if it was a good idea. 

'Of course he wasn't happy. But I assure you that he never wanted to leave.'

Santos' decision came in the aftermath of Ronaldo's angry reaction to being substituted in Portugal's group stage defeat to South Korea.

Ronaldo played less than 20 minutes as his replacement Goncalo Ramos netted a hat-trick

Ronaldo played less than 20 minutes as his replacement Goncalo Ramos netted a hat-trick

Santos has a big decision whether to start Ronaldo in their quarter-final with Morocco

Santos has a big decision whether to start Ronaldo in their quarter-final with Morocco

The manager admitted he 'didn't like' Ronaldo's reaction, and replaced the former Manchester United star with youngster Goncalo Ramos - who netted a hat-trick in a one-sided victory for Portugal. 

Since then Ronaldo also hit the news after it was reported he didn't train with substitutes the day after the match as normal procedure.

He instead opted to do gym work with the starting XI, despite playing less than 20 minutes against Switzerland. 

Ronaldo after hearing about the reports about him wanting to leave the squad, took to Twitter and wrote: 'A group too close to be broken by outside forces. A nation too brave to let itself be frightened by any adversary.

'A team in the truest sense of the word, which will fight for the dream until the end! Believe with us! Strength, Portugal!'

Ronaldo has frequently been in the news - similar to the end of his spell at Manchester United

Ronaldo has frequently been in the news - similar to the end of his spell at Manchester United

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