Cristiano Ronaldo's ex-head coach Fernando Santos admits he keeps in touch with the soccer icon, despite claiming in 2023 he hadn't talked to him since the Qatar World Cup.
The 70-year-old, who led Portugal's national team from 2014 to 2022, guided his country to its first major titles with victories at Euro 2016 and the 2019 Nations League alongside the legendary forward.
However, after a shocking quarter-final exit at the hands of Morocco in Qatar – a game that saw Ronaldo benched – Santos was dismissed from his position. Subsequent reports hinted at a fallout between the two over the decision, with the manager stating he had "not spoken" to Ronaldo since. But now, over two years on, a more positive clarification has been issued.
"Cristiano Ronaldo is a great player, and my relationship with him has been good since 2004, before I coached the national team," Santos told Egyptian Channel 1, as per O Jogo.
"Ronaldo sitting on the bench [at the Qatar World Cup] when I was Portugal coach was a vision that Cristiano respected, and we still communicate."
This revelation from the former Portugal head coach stands in stark contrast to the narrative of a rift that was reported two years prior between Santos and the 39-year-old superstar.
"We don't talk since… I don't know which day, but since we came back from Qatar," Santos told A Bola. "I had a very strong relationship with Cristiano. Personal and professional.
"That relationship was strengthened from the moment we joined up with the national team. We always got along very well. The expression is a little strong, but almost like father and son, or younger brother and older brother.
"However, I made a tactical decision in Qatar and for that you need to understand a little bit about the background. I have already said that he is the best in the world but at that moment, it was very difficult for him."
Despite past tensions, it appears that Santos, now helming Azerbaijan's national team, and Ronaldo, now shining in the Saudi Pro League, have mended fences.
