Former AC Milan and Netherlands midfielder Clarence Seedorf has reacted to the World Cup ‘drama’ around Manchester United and Portugal icon Cristiano Ronaldo.
Cristiano Ronaldo is now at a record-tying sixth World Cup competition — alongside Lionel Messi — and the 41-year-old Portuguese forward has attracted early criticism.
Portugal were held to a 1-1 draw in their Group K opener against DR Congo earlier this month, as Ronaldo struggled to make a meaningful impact on the match.
Roberto Martinez refused to drop Ronaldo after Portugal’s World Cup opener and the Manchester United legend kept his place in the starting XI against Uzbekistan.
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Clarence Seedorf says Man Utd legend Cristiano Ronaldo must be pragmatic in the Portugal squad for the World Cup
Cristiano Ronaldo hit back at his critics in Portugal’s encounter with Uzbekistan after the Al Nassr captain netted a stunning first-half brace earlier this week.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has played the full 90 minutes of Portugal’s 1-1 draw against DR Congo and 5-0 demolition of Uzbekistan at the World Cup.
Clarence Seedorf insisted that Ronaldo does not have to “prove anything” to anyone else, but he added that Roberto Martinez should not be afraid to take him off either.
Speaking on Rio Ferdinand Presents, he said: “In the case of Cristiano, for example, I mean, people are talking about, should he play?
“I think yes, I think he should start. He’s too big of a name. I saw him fit, so I think he should start.
“But if at minute 60 things are not happening and you have another big striker on the bench, which they have, then I think Cristiano should be also subbed if needed.
“Not because of anything, it’s because that happens for everybody. And these things should be able to be set.
“This takes nothing away from Cristiano. Cristiano doesn’t need to prove anything anymore to [anybody] for me. So, if he’s busy with proving himself, he should stop doing that.”
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Clarence Seedorf explains that ‘balance’ is important for the criticism around Portugal and Man Utd icon Cristiano Ronaldo
Portugal’s steamrolling of Uzbekistan at the Houston Stadium has put Martinez’s men in a strong position to make the round of 32 at the World Cup tournament.
Seedorf defended the harsh criticism that former Manchester United and Juventus superstar Ronaldo has received from pundits at this summer’s competition.
“There has to be a balance,” he told Rio Ferdinand.
“My way of doing the job as a pundit is I try to be respectful at all times because I’ve been on the other side and I never like [it] when they would go out of what would be, let’s say, respectful to say or to the tone and certain words. But I think as a pundit, you need to say what you see.
“So, it doesn’t matter who it is. But the way you say it, that is where I think the difference can be made.”
Portugal will play their final Group K match on Sunday against Colombia at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, with kick-off slated for 12:30am UK time.
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