Portugal: ‘God forbid’ – Spain coach De la Fuente on Cristiano Ronaldo retirement
Spain national soccer team coach Luis de la Fuente has dismissed claims that Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure from the Portugal national team was a bittersweet moment. This statement follows Ronaldo’s recent clash with Portugal’s coach, Jorge Jesus.
In an interview with the Spanish news agency EFE, De la Fuente firmly rejected any notion of sentimentality surrounding Ronaldo’s farewell. “No, no way, God forbid,” he said when asked about the emotional implications of Ronaldo’s decision.
Ronaldo recently announced his intention to pass on the iconic number seven shirt to the next generation of Portuguese players. In a farewell message to his nation, he stated, “To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to return our national team’s No. 7 shirt.” He acknowledged the difficulty of this choice, emphasizing that such decisions are often made with both the mind and the heart.
In his farewell, Ronaldo expressed gratitude to his teammates, coaches, family, and supporters for their unwavering support throughout his international career. The news comes as Spain prepares for its final two matches in the Nations League group stage against the Czech Republic and England.
