Portugal manager Fernando Santos has confirmed Ronaldo won’t play in Thursday’s friendly against the Super Eagles due to a stomach bug.
Ronaldo gave an explosive interview to Piers Morgan’s show on TalkTV this week in which he criticised Manchester United and said he had no respect for the coach Erik ten Hag, who has not relied on him much this season.
“He is suffering from gastroenteritis and will not train today for this reason,” Santos told a press conference in Lisbon.
“He won’t be ready (to face Nigeria), he’s resting, as you know, gastritis takes a lot out of players.”
The coach said Ronaldo’s interview was not sanctioned by Portugal but did not need to be either, and that it had nothing to do with the national team.
After playing Nigeria on Thursday in Lisbon, Portugal will open their World Cup in Qatar with their first game against Ghana a week later.