Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho said on Friday that Cristiano Ronaldo’s international retirement does not signal the end of his playing career, insisting the Portuguese superstar still has more to achieve. “It’s not a retirement, his career hasn’t ended. Ronaldo, who played under Mourinho for three years at Madrid, announced on Thursday that he had played his final match for Portugal after a record 234 appearances and 146 goals for his country.
Anyone who knows him knows he still has goals for his career,” Mourinho said ahead of Real Madrid’s match against Valencia.
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho said Friday that Cristiano Ronaldo’s international retirement does not signal the end of his playing career, insisting there was more to come from the Portuguesesuperstar.
Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, fell out with Portugal coach Jorge Jesus at the end of September after reportedly refusing to play in a UEFA Nations League match. The 41-year-old subsequently left the national team camp and was handed a 30-day suspension, bringing a disappointing end to an international career that included leading Portugal to the UEFA Euro 2016 title. Despite retiring from international football, Ronaldo will continue his club career with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, where he remains under contract until June 2027.
