World Cup 2022 – Mesut Özil: media reproach due to Cristiano Ronaldo

WHAT HAPPENED? Mesut Özil has criticized the management of Cristiano Ronaldo. The former German international has mainly targeted the press.

WHAT WAS SAID? “I really don’t understand where this constant negativity of the press towards Cristiano is coming from,” Özil wrote on Instagram: “The media is just trying to get clicks. And pundits who no longer have a career just want to get attention with their big name and try to make it look bad.”

Ronaldo will soon turn 38, stressed Özil: “So is it any wonder he no longer scores 50 goals a season? Every football fan out there should be happy that he has been playing world-class football for 20 years. I don’t think that anyone of the new generation will be able to match his numbers. He will remain at his level forever.”

The 34-year-old 2014 world champion, who played under Ronaldo for Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013 and is now under contract with Basaksehir FK in Turkey, has called for more respect for “one of the greatest athletes in sporting history “.

WHAT IS THE BACKGROUND? Various media outlets reported on Thursday Ronaldo has threatened to walk away as he was not allowed to start in the 6-1 round of 16 win against Switzerland. The Portuguese association has firmly denied the reports.

The superstar herself responded significantly on Instagram: “A group too united to be broken by outside forces. A nation too brave to be intimidated by any adversary. Forward, Portugal!”

Portugal coach Santos also spoke on Friday: “Leave him alone, he doesn’t deserve it after all he’s done for Portuguese football. He never told me he was leaving the team. We have to stop this controversy.”

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WHAT’S NEXT? CR7 is currently with the Portuguese national team at the World Cup in Qatar, where coach Fernando Santos’ team will face Morocco in the quarter-finals on Saturday (16:00) LIVE TICKERS).