Martinez Eyed for Al Nassr Managerial Role Amid Ronaldo Debate
Reports indicate that Roberto Martinez, the current manager of the Portuguese national football team, is in discussions regarding a potential move to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr. This development comes as Martinez faces ongoing scrutiny over his persistent selection of veteran forward Cristiano Ronaldo.
Al Nassr Seeks New Leadership
Al Nassr is reportedly in the market for a new head coach following the departure of Jorge Jesus, who recently guided the club to its 11th Saudi Pro League title. Initial speculation suggested the club might pursue former Fulham manager Marco Silva, however, he is now understood to be joining Benfica.
French sports media outlet RMC Sport has reported that Al Nassr has initiated talks with the 52-year-old Martinez. The potential agreement would see Martinez take the reins after the upcoming World Cup. Martinez, who previously managed Wigan Athletic and Everton, has not managed a club side in ten years. He recently announced that the upcoming tournament would mark his final commitment with the Portuguese national team.
Ronaldo’s Role Under Scrutiny
The proposed move would reunite Martinez with Cristiano Ronaldo, a prominent figure in Al Nassr’s squad, which also includes other Portuguese internationals like Joao Felix. Both Ronaldo and Felix were selected by Martinez for the World Cup squad.
Despite his legendary status, Martinez has frequently faced criticism for his reluctance to substitute the 41-year-old Ronaldo, whose effectiveness in leading Portugal’s attack has been questioned. Ronaldo has not scored in his last 10 major tournament appearances, with his last goal dating back to 2022. In a recent 1-1 draw against Cape Verde, Ronaldo played the full 90 minutes without registering a single shot on target.
Expert Criticism of Tactical Decisions
During the match against Cape Verde, with Portugal trailing and seeking a goal in the final minutes, Martinez opted to substitute midfielder Vitinha for Goncalo Ramos. This decision drew sharp criticism from former England international Chris Sutton, who described the move as “embarrassing.”
Speaking on BBC Radio 5, Sutton expressed his bewilderment, stating, “Are we all watching a different game? He is scared to take him off. He is not the manager.” Sutton added, “He (Ronaldo) might score the winner, but the game passed him by. He is a brilliant player. He was once the playmaker, but now he is the poacher. He is not only the poacher, but he runs the estate. I don’t understand some of his management. Cristiano Ronaldo was on the periphery and Martinez has to be brave enough to be the manager.”
Martinez Defends Ronaldo Selection
Martinez has defended his decision to keep Ronaldo on the field, asserting that it would have made “no sense” to remove the nation’s all-time leading scorer during a critical moment when goals were needed.
“We were finding it difficult because they were playing in a back six,” Martinez explained. “And in a situation like that, you can use his qualities. It makes no sense to get a player like Cristiano out of the game where you need goals. The straight line is not the quickest way. The way he attracts defenders and uses space is valuable. When you need goals, you need a player like Cristiano Ronaldo on the pitch.”
The draw against Cape Verde places Portugal third in Group K, behind Colombia, who secured a 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan in another group match. Portugal is scheduled to face Uzbekistan in Houston, Texas, on Tuesday.
