Ronaldo’s Lack Of Mobility Is Hurting Portugal – Forlan

Former Manchester United striker Diego Forlan has come out to criticise Cristiano Ronaldo. He recently had his say while speaking to the press, and fans have been reacting.

Claiming that CR7 is currently a hindrance to Portugal’s World Cup ambitions, Forlan revealed that Ronaldo‘s static nature makes life far too easy for opposition defenders.

Diego added that while Cristiano remains a predatory threat in the box, his lack of mobility prevents Portugal from stretching the pitch and creating space for their other creative talents.

His words, “I’m speaking as a striker, the problem is that Cristiano is in the center, he is who he is, he is there as a No.9, and he stays there to take advantage of the goal because he no longer goes out to look for the ball, but he ends up conditioning Portugal.

It’s the typical situation where we used to say, ‘I’m staying here because I’m close to the goal to score,’ but you don’t understand that you end up hurting your team because both center backs stay there, you don’t move. The center backs stay put, one becomes a reference point and the other is left out. You have no one who can get to you because you start closing down that space.

If he moved a little to the wings, the others could get in and he could be involved. That’s where Portugal falters because they don’t explode because everything ends up going to one side, which is actually a funnel. I wouldn’t say it’s a problem, it’s about making him understand. Telling him: ‘Move, get out of there so you can do something’.”

WOW.

Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro GOIH ComM is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a forward for and captains both Saudi Pro League club, Al Nassr and the Portugal national team.

Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro was born on 5 February 1985 in the São Pedro parish of Funchal, the capital of the Portuguese island of Madeira, and grew up in the nearby parish of Santo António. He is the fourth and youngest child of Maria Dolores dos Santos Viveiros da Aveiro, who worked as a cook in the hospitality industry and a cleaning woman, and José Dinis Aveiro, a municipal gardener at the Junta de Freguesia of Santo António and part-time kit man for football club Andorinha.

Ronaldo’s move to Manchester United was completed on 12 August 2003, too late for the 2003 FA Community Shield but in time for their game against Bolton Wanderers on the opening day of the 2003–04 season, and made him the first Portuguese player to sign for the club.

Ahead of the 2009–10 season, Ronaldo joined Real Madrid for a world record transfer fee at the time of £80 million (€94 million). His contract, which ran until 2015, was worth €11 million per year and contained a €1 billion buy-out clause.