PORTUGUESE FOOTBALL LEGEND SLAMS RONALDO FOR HIS ARROGANCE: “I PLAYED AGAINST PELÉ AND MET MARADONA, BUT I’VE NEVER SEEN ANYONE BEHAVE LIKE HIM!”
António Simões, a Benfica legend and a key member of Portugal’s squad that finished third at the 1966 World Cup, recently attended a football conference where he was asked about the controversy surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Portuguese legend shook his head in disappointment, insisting that the situation should never have escalated this far. He also criticised Ronaldo’s attitude.
️ “It would have been much better if everything had been settled peacefully instead of turning into an argument.
“If there is a way for Cristiano to return to the national team, that would be good because he deserves recognition for everything he has achieved. But that doesn’t mean we have to agree with everything he says or take his side in this dispute.”
️ “I’m not here to defend Ronaldo, and I’m not here to defend Jorge Jesus. I’m here to defend common sense.
“If Ronaldo and Jesus can sit down together and resolve their differences, that would be wonderful. That’s what I hope for, although I must admit I’m not very optimistic.”
Simões was particularly irritated by Ronaldo’s suggestion that Jorge Jesus should apologise to a player of the same stature as Pelé and Maradona.
️ “Listen, I played alongside Eusébio, I faced Pelé, and I met Maradona. I have never seen any of them use other people’s greatness as a standard to demand how others should treat them.”