Cristiano Ronaldo threatened to LEAVE Portugal's World Cup squad over Switzerland snub, according to sensational reports | The Sun
CRISTIANO RONALDO threatened to leave Portugal's World Cup squad after being dropped for their last-16 clash with Switzerland, according to sensational reports.
The Portuguese superstar, 37, started his country's opening four games in Qatar.
But he was then left out of Fernando Santos' XI for the Switzerland game, before his replacement Goncalo Ramos bagged a hat-trick in a 6-1 victory.
Now Record are claiming Ronaldo made a threat to leave the World Cup altogether after being benched.
The Portuguese FA have categorically denied the reports.
Following Ronaldo's second half substitution in the group stage match with South Korea, the ex-Manchester United forward was reported as telling Santos "you're in a f*****g hurry to take me away".
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He swiftly refuted those claims by insisting he was actually speaking to a South Korean player who was urging him to leave the field quicker.
He said: "What happened was before my substitution, the South Korea player told me to get off quickly.
"I told him to shut up as he doesn't have that authority. There was no disagreement [with the coach]."
But Ronaldo could not avoid the fact that he sulked while being taken off, leaving boss Santos unimpressed.
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Ahead of the Switzerland game, the Portugal head coach said: "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."
Following Ramos' hat-trick in the last-16, he is expected to keep his place at the expense of Ronaldo.
Portugal take on Morocco in the World Cup quarter-finals on Saturday.
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