Former Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt has voiced concerns over Cristiano Ronaldo’s influence on the Portuguese national team, describing the 41-year-old forward as a significant challenge for manager Roberto Martinez.
Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, Butt argued that Ronaldo’s immense ego could disrupt team dynamics. ‘He’s a great lad, but his ego is huge, and it makes him a massive problem for the squad,’ Butt stated, drawing parallels to Ronaldo’s controversial second stint at Manchester United.
Butt also highlighted the overwhelming fan support for Ronaldo, noting that nearly 90% of Portuguese fans at the recent 1-1 draw with DR Congo wore Ronaldo jerseys. ‘You’ve got that to deal with as a manager too,’ he added.
Martinez, meanwhile, defended his decision to keep Ronaldo on the pitch, attributing the lackluster performance to insufficient support in attack. ‘We need to get the ball to him near the six-yard box,’ Martinez said after the match.